A few of those questions you thought you knew the answer to.

Found out a few snippets of useless info from QI a book of general ignorance.


Teflon


Teflon was not discovered as a by product of the space programme

Whilst experimenting with CFC's used in refrigeration, Roy Plunkett found a sample of polytetrafluorethylate had frozen overnight into a waxy solid with unusual properties, it was extremely slippery as well as inert to virtually all chemicals, including highly corrosive acids.

His employers, Dupont, soon found a range of products for it uses, initially in the manhattan project ( the codename for the development of nuclear weapons in 1942 -6) and subsequently in cookware.

No one has been able to find a precise source for the space program myth, except that the apollo missions all depended on Teflon for cable insulation.

Teflon does however have the lowest friction rating of any known solid material, which is why it works so well as a non stick surface for frying pans


If its so slippery, how do they get it to stick to the pan?

The process involves sandblasting to create tiny scratches on the pans surface, then spraying on a thin coat of liquid Teflon which flows into the scratches. This is then baked at high heat, causing the teflon to harden and get a reasonably secure mechanical grip.

Its then coated with a sealant and baked again.



So now you know




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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2007 03:21AM by LS..

What was James Bonds favourite drink?

Not the Vodka Martini


A painstaking study of Ian Flemings books has shown that James Bond consumed a drink every 7 pages.

Of the 317 drinks consumed in total, his prefered tipple was a whiskey by a long margin, he drinks a 101 in total, among them 58 bourbons, 38 scotches, 30 glasses of champagne, & in one book ( you only live twice he tries saka) he likes it and has 35.

Bond opts for Vodka Martini ( his supposedly famous tipple only 19 times ) and he drinks Gin Martini amongst others, although most are bought for him by other people.

Ian Fleming himself preferred his Martini's shaken, and made with Gin, On his doctors orders he switched from drinking Gin to Bourbon later in life, which may explain his hero's predilectation.




LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2007 03:22AM by LS..

what was the first invention to break the sound barrier?

The Whip


Whips were invent in China 7000 years ago but it was'nt until the invention of high speed photography in 1927 that the "crack" of the whip was seen to be a mini sonic boom and not the leather hitting the handle.

The whip's crack is caused by a loop that forms in the whip when you flick it. The loop travels along the length of the whip and, because the leather tapers to a fine tip, the loop speeds up as it travels, reaching over 10 times it original speed.

The crack is when the loop breaks the sound barrier at about 1.94kph ( 742mph)




LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2007 03:21AM by LS..

in one book ( you only live twice he tries saka) he likes it and has 35.

my kinda secret agent