Effect of perfluoroalkyl chain length on synthesis and film formation of fluorine-containing colloidal dispersions

The development of a new family of colloidal dispersions that exhibit nonspherical shapes and are capable of forming stable polymeric dispersions and films is reported. Heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate (FMA), heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate (FA), heptadecafluoro-1-decene (FD), heptafluorobutyl acrylate (FBA), and heptafluorobutyl methacrylate (FBMA) were copolymerized with methyl methaerylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (nBA) monomers leading to the formation of stable colloidal dispersions that contain up to 8.5% (w/w) of F-containing polymer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy, and internal reflection infrared imaging (IRIRI) showed that the length of the perfluoroalkyl side chain in F-containing monomers is directly related to surface concentration levies in coalesced films. These studies also show that incorporation of each F-containing monomer generates surface properties with enhanced water repellency as well as significant decreases of the kinetic coefficient of friction.