POLYMERIZATION ABILITY OF PERFLUOROALKYLOXY GROUP SUBSTITUTED STYRENE DERIVATIVES AND THEIR SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS

Fluorine containing styrene derivatives were syethnsized by introduction of perfluoroalkyloxy group to aromatic ring of styrene; then their polymerization ability was estimated. The surface characteristics of these polymers obtained were also investigated by measuring of the contact angles of liquid drops. The fluorine containing styrene derivatives could be polymerized and copolymerized by a conventional radical polymerization technique; high molecular weight polymers were obtained. In the case of copolymerization with styrene, the monomer composition in the feed almost agreed with that in the copolymer. Therefore, the polymerization ability of the fluorine containing styrene derivatives seemed comparable to that of styrene. These polymers were soluble in organic solvents, films could be formed from these polymer solutions by casting method. The contact angle by water on the surface of the polymer film was increased with increasing the length of perfluoroalkyl chain; the value was above 125°C in the case of the polymer having pentadecafluorooctyloxyl group. The critical surface tension of that polymer film showed an extremely low value, less than 10 dyn/cm. These results are due to the orientation of trifluoromethyl group on the surface of the polymer film.