Synthesis and surface properties of novel fluoroalkylsilyl methacrylate copolymers

Abstract

Abstract The syntheses of novel mono(1H,1H,2H,2H-tridecafluorooctyl) dimethylsilylpropyl methacrylate (MFSA), bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-tridecafluorooctyl)methylsilylpropyl methacrylate (BFSA) and tris(1H,1H,2H,2H-tridecafluorooctyl)silylpropyl methacrylate (TFSA) were achieved in two steps each in good yields. These fluoroalkylsilyl methacrylate monomers (MFSA, BFSA and TFSA) readily reacted with methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) to form their corresponding fluoroalkysilyl methacrylate copolymers via continuous emulsion polymerization. The structures of fluoroalkylsilyl methacrylate monomers and copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 19F NMR. The stability of copolymer emulsions was determined by measuring their particle size and zeta potential, and the thermal stability of copolymers was also evaluated by using thermo-gravimetric analysis. In addition, it was observed that improving fluorine content, increasing the packing density of fluoroalkylsilyl segments, and annealing process could enhance the excellent water and oil repellency of fluoroalkylsilyl methacrylate copolymers. The surface free energies of copolymer films were calculated. Moreover, an enrichment of fluoroalkyl chains at the copolymer surface was directly verified by measuring contact angles and using atomic force microscopy.