Characterization of a low-wettable surface based on perfluoroalkyl acrylate copolymers

Abstract The low-wettable surfaces based on perfluoroalkyl acrylate (FA)/ n -alkyl acrylate copolymers with various amounts of FA units were presented to analyze their surface properties. The FA copolymers were prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization in the presence of sodium 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propanesulfonate (AMPSNa) used as a reactive surfactant. Low-wettability properties resulted from the self-assembly of fluorine-containing side chains, surface density and extent of orientation of perfluoroalkyl (R F ) groups. The wetting behavior of the low-wettable surfaces was discussed from a standpoint of dynamic contact angles measurement, which implied an enrichment of perfluoroalkyl groups on the topmost surface. Increased R F surface densities and orientation, measured by attenuated total reflectance spectra of infrared (ATR-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning force microscopy (SFM), respectively, were consistent with higher angles.