Preparing Low-Surface-Energy Polymer Materials by Minimizing Intermolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions

Abstract

In this study, we found that poly(vinyl phenol)/polybenzoxazine (PVPh/PBZ) copolymers feature low surface energies when they possess a minimal number of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. For example, PVPh/PBZ = 30/70 exhibits an extremely low surface energy of 16.8 mJ/m2 after thermal curingeven lower than that of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (22.0 mJ/m2)based on calculations performed using a two-liquid geometric method. Infrared spectroscopic analyses indicated that a decrease in the degree of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the PVPh/PBZ copolymers resulted in a lower surface free energy. An increase in the intermolecular hydrogen bonding did, however, enhance the thermal properties, namely, the glass-transition temperature, the thermal decomposition temperature, and the char yield. The manipulation of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions is a unique and simple approach toward preparing low-surface-energy materials without the need to employ fluoropolymers or silicones.

Combinatorial effect of substratum properties on mesenchymal stem cell sheet engineering and subsequent multi-lineage differentiation

“…2B). These results were consistent with the findings in a prior study, which reported that the level of crosslinking could cause variation of surface tension, thus affecting the surface hydrophobicity [28]. Moreover, increasing the roughness of a hydrophobic surface could further enhance the hydrophobicity and increase the water contact angle [29][30].…”

Surface properties and hydrogen bonds of mono-functional polybenzoxazines with different N-substituents

“…The transformation between the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the intramolecular ones of the polybenzoxazine materials could lead to the low surface free energy [43,44] . Especially for the intramolecular hydrogen bonds [14,39,40,52] , it contributes much to the low surface free energy.…”

Adsorption state of fibronectin on poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces with varied stiffness can dominate adhesion density of fibroblasts

“…The overall wettability of the PDMS substrates remained in the hydrophobic region (>100°); however, the hydrophobicity slightly decreased as the concentration of the cross-linker was increased. This slight change in wettability is considered to be caused by the varied surface tension induced by the cross-linking density [19]. The overall tendency for the surface wettability was independent of the bulk or surface stiffness on the PDMS substrates.…”