Abstract
Recently developed low fluorine containing polymers are advanced materials which confer advantageous properties to surfaces at a lower cost than conventional fluoropolymers (like PTFE), and are also more easily processable. Fluoropolymer surfaces are characterized by a low surface energy, high oleo and hydrophobicity, low coefficients of friction, among many other properties. This makes them desired materials in microelectronics, antifogging, antifouling and medical applications, to name a few. Fluorinated compounds are not easily coupled with macromolecules or common organic systems, and great efforts are made to compatibilize fluorinated species with hydrocarbon polymers. In this work, two chemical routes were explored in order to incorporate perfluorinated alkyl chains in an epoxy-amine based thermoset. On one side, a perfluoroalkyl thiolated molecule was used as a stabilizing ligand for silver nanoparticles, which were incorporated in the matrix polymer. On the other hand, fluorinated chains containing epoxy functionalities, were used as the matrix modifier. In the first case, fluorinated chains covering the nanoparticles, were mixed with the matrix, while in the second case, the fluoroalkyl chains were chemically linked to the network. Fluorine migration to the air—polymer interface was confirmed by X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The materials hydrophobicity was then studied in terms of their contact angle with water (CA), as a function of the surface composition and the topography. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), operated in moderate and light tapping modes, were used to morphologically describe the surfaces. An exhaustive surface analysis was made in order to explain the different hydrophobicity grades found.
Highlights
Cross-linked epoxies exhibit outstanding properties that have placed them as the standard option for a variety of applications such as adhesives, coatings, composites for structural applications, etc
A perfluoroalkyl thiolated molecule was used as a stabilizing ligand for silver nanoparticles, which were incorporated in the matrix polymer
Two chemical routes were explored to modify an epoxyamine thermoset: the incorporation of a reactive perfluoroalkyl chain containing molecule, chemically linked to the thermoset network, and the incorporation of silver nanoparticles covered with a perfluoroalkyl chain containing ligand
Summary
Cross-linked epoxies exhibit outstanding properties that have placed them as the standard option for a variety of applications such as adhesives, coatings, composites for structural applications, etc. Some of the reasons are the flexibility in the election of monomers and co-monomers enabling one to obtain a variety of products, from low Tg rubbers to high Tg materials, a very high adhesion to a variety of surfaces due to the polar groups present in the structure, the possibility of introducing different modifiers to generate optical properties, to increase toughness [1], or to make a functional polymer, for example, a self cleaning or low friction coating by the incorporation of low surface energy compounds [2,3,4]. Chemical surface composition and topography where analyzed in order to explain the degrees of hydrophobicity originated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
