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Thermolon is a patented ceramic, non-stick coating based on Sol-Gel technology.

The company's head office, research and development, and manufacturing are located in Busan, South Korea. Co-branded together with GreenPan, Thermolon launched its Ceramic Non-stick in the United States on 26th of July 2007 on Home Shopping Network. And in Europe, it was premiered at the Frankfurt Housewares Show in February 2008. Before then, organic (i.e. carbon-containing) polymers such as fluoropolymers and silicone polyesters dominated the non-stick cookware market.

GreenPan coated with Thermolon were amongst the first to bring Ceramic Non-stick to the mass market and created great interest in the new technology among Food Writers, Ecologists and those involved in the trade.

What Is Sol-Gel Technology?
Sol-Gel is versatile technology for making ceramic and glass-like materials. It involves transition from a liquid "Sol" into a solid "Gel" phase. By varying the process conditions, it is possible to engineer by design ceramic or glass-like materials in a variety of forms with different mechanical and structural properties.

The Sol-Gel process by which a film of Thermolon is formed on a cookware surface, results in a predominantly inorganic coating with a backbone comprising the elements silicon (Si) and oxygen (O).

How does Thermolon Work?
Thermolon has millions of tiny peaks on its surface that help reduce contact area with oil, water and food substances. This is often called the lotus leaf effect - the surface of Thermolon has a similar structure. Also, attached to some of the Si atoms of the Thermolon backbone are alkyl groups (simple hydrocarbons), which help provide a degree of slip and water repellence to the cured Thermolon surface.

Development of Thermolon Ceramic Coatings
After their initial launch in 2007, Thermolon Ltd. introduced the ROCKS coating in 2009. This was a further advance in ceramic Sol-Gel technology and also led to an updating of their original coatings. They introduced their third generation in 2013, called MARATHON, which claims improvements in durability and thermal shock resistance.