2026-01-26 – Weekly Chemist News : Accidental birth of Teflon

Last week, our community engaged in a series of thoughtful discussions, with many members sharing their expertise and perspectives on both technical and practical aspects of chemistry. There was a notable focus on computational chemistry settings and the ongoing challenge of balancing chemical properties with consumer demands. Members also delved into analytical techniques and the history of chemical discoveries, providing a rich tapestry of insights and advice.


This Week’s Hot Topics

DLPNO-CCSD(T) settings for spin gaps
A lively debate emerged around the optimal DLPNO-CCSD(T) settings for accurately calculating spin gaps. This discussion is crucial for anyone involved in computational chemistry looking to enhance precision in electronic structure calculations.
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Lowering acrylamide without killing crisp
The forum tackled the tricky issue of reducing acrylamide in food products while maintaining their desired crispiness. This topic is particularly relevant for chemists in the food industry striving for safer consumption without compromising quality.
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PVDF vs PTFE syringe filters for LC prep
A practical comparison of PVDF and PTFE syringe filters was discussed, focusing on their suitability for liquid chromatography sample preparation. This is essential reading for lab professionals seeking to optimize their workflow.
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Accidental birth of Teflon
Members shared intriguing stories about the serendipitous discovery of Teflon, sparking conversations about how chance plays a role in scientific advancements. It’s a reminder of the unexpected paths research can take.
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Placebo wins dissolution, again
An examination of placebo effects in dissolution testing highlighted the complexities of pharmaceutical formulations. This topic underscores the importance of understanding placebo impacts in drug development.
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Passive samplers vs grabs for urban PAHs
The community explored the effectiveness of passive samplers compared to grab samples for monitoring urban polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This discussion is pivotal for environmental chemists focused on accurate pollution assessment.
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Thanks for catching up with us. We look forward to another week of engaging discussions and shared discoveries. Until next time, keep exploring and sharing your knowledge.

On the ‘computational chemistry settings’ point, I sanity-check DFT screens by re-optimizing one representative at def2-TZVP with D3(BJ) and seeing if key bonds shift >0.02 Å from the cheaper level — if they do, I don’t trust the trends. Small caveat: for polar systems the implicit solvent choice (e.g., SMD vs CPCM) can swing results more than the functional, so match it to the actual medium.

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Quick tip I use when balancing “slippery-but-grippy” coatings vs consumer feel: don’t trust the static contact angle — check advancing/receding and hysteresis; if Δθ drops under about 10°, we tweak microtexture instead of chemistry to recover feel, which saved us a reformulation last quarter. Caveat: on very soft substrates it correlates poorly, so a quick thumb‑rub panel with @mattk in QC still decides it.

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In our coatings tests, I pair @sophiaf21’s angle metrics with a quick low-speed tribo sweep using a PDMS probe; if the Stribeck curve shows a stick–slip knee below about 5 mm/s, users call it “draggy” even when wetting looks great. Caveat: humidity shifts that knee a lot — 20% vs 50% RH can flip the verdict, like going from waxed skis to Velcro.

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