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, 1H NMR and 19F NMR. GPC results show that the number average molecular weight (Mn) of PFEMA was as high as 8.5 × 105 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 (Td > 200 °C), low glass transition temperature (Tg = 13.0 °C), and nice hydrophobicity (θwater = 99.9°). Comparison studies on PFEMA and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) show that an introduced functional group (–CH2CH2O–) has a significant effect on lowering Tg and improving hydrolysis resistance without impairing surface properties.