<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> Bill Spurlock was nice enough to reply with the following to an inquiry I just made about the shape of the particles used in the Telfon powder variant he sells to the piano industry Obviously the claim that these particles are spherical are a bit overstated,  yet they are a far cry from the sharped edged graphite particles. Telfon is inert to most everthing it would seem. The heat generated by friction in action centers is not enough to even make the stuff think about reacting. Anyways.. I hope this answers any questions anyone has about the shape of Teflon particles. RicB   SpurlockTool@cs.com wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>Dear Richard, Thanks for your inquiry. The shape of the Teflon powder I sell could probably best be described as odd-shaped blobs. Here is an electron micrograph: <img SRC="cid:part1.3ECF2B92.CE44B2FE@grieg.uib.no" BORDER=0 ID="MA1.1053732234" height=99 width=99> This is a very low molecular weight material with an average particle size of 3 microns. The extremely small particle size and shape result in a very tenacious presence once applied to leather. In other words, it stays in the leather until the leather wears away. An interesting side note: The exploding dye packs used in bank robbery cash bags use a similar sized dry particle which the robber cannot entirely wash off. Hope this info helps, Regards, Bill   In a message dated 5/23/03 3:03:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no writes:     <blockquote TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Hi Bill You no doubt do not remember me, but thats no biggie :) The reason I am writting is that there seems to be an arguement about the microscopic shape of the telfon powder you sell. Some say its fiberous, others crystaline, some say grandular, and finally I hear spherical. I would personally like to know whats what, and if you know of a microscopic picture I would be also very greatfull Thanks for whatever help you can provide RicB -- Richard Brekne RPT, N.P.T.F. UiB, Bergen, Norway <A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A> <A HREF="http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html">http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html</A> <A HREF="http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html">http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html</A></blockquote>  </blockquote> -- Richard Brekne RPT, N.P.T.F. UiB, Bergen, Norway <A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A> <A HREF="http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html">http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html</A> <A HREF="http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html">http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html</A>  </html>