Controlled synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers based on 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl acrylate and acrylic acid

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl acrylate (OFPA) in the presence of different concentrations of S,S-dibenzyl carbonotrithioate as chain transfer agent (CTA) was investigated. The estimate of Ctr was defined using the size-exclusion chromatography measurements. Copolymers of acrylic acid and OFPA with different microstructure were synthesized by three methods: block copolymerization, copolymerization of acrylic acid and OFPA, and chemical modification of copolymer of tert-butyl acrylate and OFPA. Copolymerization of abovementioned monomer pairs was studied. The reactivity ratios were calculated by using the Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tudos models, as well as the method of least squares. Aggregation behavior of the obtained amphiphilic copolymers at the air/water interface was defined by the Langmuir monolayer technique. Monomolecular films of amphiphilic copolymers were studied using atomic force microscopy. The effect of the chain microstructure, the acrylic acid content in the copolymer, and subphase pH on the isotherm curves were shown.