CF3CF2CF2C(CF3)2-based fluorinated surfactants with high surface activity

Abstract

The ever-increasing environmental and toxicity concerns have resulted in the widespread development of fluorosurfactants without long perfluorinated chain (≥ C8). The surveys have reported that perfluoroether chains are easier to degrade than fluorinated chains due to the better flexibility of ether bond. Herein, four novel kinds of fluorosurfactants with a perfluorinated branched ether chain were reported, which can be synthesized via a simple and economical route. These surfactants all exhibited extremely high surface activity. The effect of salt and pH on the surface activities of the newly prepared surfactants were studied. The results showed that these surfactants possessed excellent acid and alkali resistance except that the anionic surfactant was slightly sensitive to acid. Interfacial tension of oil/water and thermodynamic properties of the surfactants were further investigated for the purpose of special applications. This series of surfactants had great thermal stability and the fluorinated cationic surfactant can spread on the oil surface under the condition of low concentration. These excellent properties indicate that these surfactants possess good prospect for industrial applications.