POSS and fluorine containing nanostructured block copolymer; Synthesis via RAFT polymerization and its application as hydrophobic coating material

Abstract

Herein, the nanostructured block copolymers (BCPs) of fluorinated methacrylate and POSS-methacrylate were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. In this case, methacryloisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (MAibPOSS) was first polymerized using 2-cyano-2-propyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate (CPDTC) as a RAFT agent. Later, the poly(methacryloisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) (PMAibPOSS) was used as a macro-RAFT agent for the polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) monomer. The BCPs were characterized via FT-IR, 1H NMR and GPC analyses. The BCPs spontaneously self-assembled exhibiting core-shell and lamellar type nanostructures when deposited from different organic solvents like chloroform and THF, respectively. The nanostructured morphology of the BCPs was studied using SEM, TEM, AFM, and SAXS analyses. The prepared BCPs were coated over various substrates and their hydrophobicity was measured using water contact angle analysis. The coated substrates exhibited improved hydrophobicity with the water contact angle values as high as ~135°.