Functional and perceptive aspects of non-stick coatings for cookware

In this product design study the functional and perceptive properties characterizing non-stick coatings for cookware were investigated. The recent introduction of so-defined ‘‘ceramic’’ coatings allowed to offer consumers new perceptive experiences thanks to their light shade opposite to those typical of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings in dark colour. These innovations made possible to counteract the general decline in consumers interest towards non-stick aluminium cookware, due to news – later proved unfounded – about the alleged toxicity of PTFE, having these products a good market success. In this work a method was individuated for testing the non-stick properties of coatings in a more technical and repeatable way, compared to the standards usually adopted by the cookware manufacturers. The coatings were later mechanically damaged in order to simulate an intense use and the non-stick properties on these abraded surfaces were newly investigated. Ceramic coatings presented a reduced functionality compared to PTFE coatings with diminished non-stick properties both on new and damaged samples.