Synthesis, characterization and properties of a novel fluorinated methacrylate polymer

A fluorinated monomer of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (FEMA) was prepared by a "one pot" process and then a novel fluorinated methacrylate polymer, poly[2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PFEMA), was successfully synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as emulsifier, hexadecane (HD) as co-stabilizer and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The chemical structure of PFEMA was characterized by FT-IR, H-1 NMR and F-19 NMR. GPC results show that the number average molecular weight (M-n) of PFEMA was as high as 8.5 x 10(5) g/mol and the polydispersity index (PDI) was only 1.3. SEM and DLS characterizations showed that the morphology of PFEMA latex was uniform spheres with the diameter of about 110-125 nm. It was also found that PFEMA has high thermo-stability (T-d > 200 degrees C), low glass transition temperature (T-g = 13.0 degrees C), and nice hydrophobicity (theta(water) = 99.9 degrees). Comparison studies on PFEMA and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) show that an introduced functional group (-CH2CH2O-) has a significant effect on lowering T-g and improving hydrolysis resistance without impairing surface properties. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.