The effect of copolymer composition on the surface properties of perfluoroalkylethyl acrylates

Abstract

The surface properties of two perfluoroalkylethyl acrylic copolymers-aqueous, Zonyl V R 329 and solvent-based, Zonyl V R 225-were studied. Zonyl V R 329 is a water-based dispersion and Zonyl V R 225 a solvent-based copolymer solution; both polymers have the same perfluoroalkyethyl side chains [F(CF 2 ) n CH 2 CH 2 A] but have different comonomer compositions. Thin films, prepared by dip coating onto mica and quartz, with and without annealing, were characterized by contact angle and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The contact angle measurements showed little variation with polymer and with substrate, consistent with the supposition that the perfluoroalkylethyl chains aggregate on the surface and thus dominate surface properties, irrespective of the composition of the rest of the polymer. XPS revealed only small variations in surface chemistry for studied films. Annealed films showed improved segregation for solvent-based Zonyl V R 225, which has both hydrocarbon alkyl and perfluoroalkylethyl side chains; the presence of hydrocarbon alkyl chains enables the perfluoroalkylethyl chains to reorganize after annealing. Depending on the external conditions, this thermal treatment can enable more perfluoroalkylethyl chains to reach the film surface (solid/air interface), leading to a reduction in the dispersive-dominant surface and enhancement in perfluoroalkylethyl segregation. This suggested that perfluoroalkylethyl side chains dominate the surface properties, which are thus not dependent on substrate, backbone composition, or formulation.

Preparation, thermostability, and hydrophobic properties of TiO2/poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate) nanocomposites

“…As shown in Figure (a), the vibration absorption at 600 cm −1 and the broad peak at about 3400 cm −1 corresponded to the TiOTi backbone and hydroxyl on TiO 2 surface, respectively . In Figure (b), new peaks of CO bond, CC bond and SiO bond are observed at 1720 cm −1 , 1630 cm −1 , and 1120 cm −1 indicating that nano‐TiO 2 was successfully modified by MPS . Compared with the Figure (b) the peak of CC at 1630 cm −1 disappeared in Figure (c), and it exhibits some new characteristic peaks at 689 and 1000–1240 cm −1 , which should be the wagging vibration and typical stretching vibration of CF and CF 3 .…”

“…However, as the addition of TiO 2 increased, there appears some agglomeration of free nano‐TiO 2 uncoated by PDFMA polymer molecule. According to previous studies, the formed agglomeration affected the stability of emulsion system. Thus, the excessive nano‐TiO 2 will result in agglomeration, and the hybrid emulsion stability has a decline trend.…”

“…32 In Figure 2(b), new peaks of C@O bond, AC@C bond and SiAO bond are observed at 1720 cm 21 , 1630 cm 21 , and 1120 cm 21 indicating that nano-TiO 2 was successfully modified by MPS. 2,30 Compared with the Figure 2(b) the peak of C@C at 1630 cm 21 disappeared in Figure 2(c), and it exhibits some new characteristic peaks at 689 and 1000-1240 cm 21 , which should be the wagging vibration and typical stretching vibration of CAF and CAF 3 . 33 Both Figure 2(b) and Figure 2(c) have the characteristic stretching peaks of CH (CH 2 ) at 2960 and 2880 cm 21 and distortion vibration of CH 2 at 1454 and 1380 cm 21 .…”

“…In recent decades, fluoropolymers have drawn great attentions in a wide range of fields (such as electronic, self-cleaning, and coating) since they have many desirable advantages including unique surface and optical properties, high thermal, chemical and weather resistance, and oil repellence properties owing to the low polarizability and the strong electronegativity of abundant fluorine atom. [1][2][3][4] Due to the small size effect and surface effect of nanoparticles, nanoparticles were used widely to improve the strength, abrasion resistance, age resistance, solvent resistance, and weather resistance of fluoropolymer matrixbased materials. [5][6][7][8] Nano-TiO 2 particle is one of the most important fillers because of its good UV shielding effect, photocatalytic properties, nonoxidizability, and economical.…”

Understanding and controlling the structure of thin polymer films used in photolithography

“…Therefore, a study of the surface free energy (SFE) through contact angle measurements is one of the most common techniques to study the polymer and copolymer thin films. A number of literature studies have reported the contact angles and surface free energy of polymer and copolymer thin films [333][334][335][336][337][338][339][340][341][342],…”