SYNTHESIS OF A POLYMER SURFACE CONTAINING COVALENTLY ATTACHED TRIETHOXYSILANE FUNCTIONALITY - ADHESION TO GLASS

The reaction of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) film containing surface hydroxyl groups (PCTFE-OH) with (3-isocyanatopropyl)triethoxysilane in the presence of dibutylin dilaurate produces a polymer surface containing alkyltriethoxysilane functionality. ATR IR and XPS results indicate that the reaction proceeds in essentially quantitative yield and that the triethoxysilane moiety is intact and covalently attached to the polymer film surface via a urethane linkage. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of PCTFE-OC(O)NH(CH2)Si(OEt)3 yields a surface containing both siloxane and silanol functionality: PCTFE-OC(O)NH(CH2)3Si(O)OH. PCTFE-OC(O)NH(CH2)3 Si(OEt)3 adheres tenaciously to glass slides; when placed in contact with glass under mild heat (80°C) and pressure, the polymer film (5 mil) cannot be removed from the glass without tearing the film.