Monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Poly(N-acylethylenimines) with Hydrocarbon and Fluorocarbon Side Chains

Abstract

A series of poly(N-acylethylenimines) with hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon side chains varying in length from 6 to 17 carbon atoms were prepared by cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines. The behavior of monolayers of these materials at the air-water interface was studied in a Langmuir through, and multilayer Langmuir Blodgett (LB) films were prepared. Both monolayer behavior and LB film formation were strongly dependent on the size and nature of the side chains. Polymers with short hydrocarbon side chains (6-11 carbon atoms) form fluid liquil like condensed monolayers in which the polymer backbone is at the water surface and the side chains are tilted toward the air. They can be easily transferred onto solid substrates, and uniform LB films can be prepared