Synthesis of a novel fluoropolymer material and its application as a functional coating on the nanoparticle-modified fiber

摘要

A novel polymer containing a perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-substituted styrene unit was synthesized by copolymerization with butyl acrylate and vinyltriethoxysilane. The bulk and surface properties were assessed through 19F NMR spectrum, contact angle and XPS. The novel polymer was targeted for use as an environmentally benign coating onto the cotton fiber to prevent the fouling of dirty water and common oils. By introducing nano-silica into the cotton fiber, the roughness of the fiber was increased strongly. The presence of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) substituted styrene in designed polymer led to the low surface energy of the fiber. It was reported that PFPE graft terpolymers were a unique class of materials which had incredibly low surface energy (12～20 mN/m). As a result, fouling liquids such as salad oil are hard to adhere to fibers. Wettability of the treated cotton fiber surface was evaluated employing distilled water and vegetable oil in our laboratory. Experimental results indicated the combination of the low surface energy group (PFPE) and nano-silicon dioxide allowed the cotton fiber surface preventing the fouling by dirty water and vegetable oil due to its excellent hydrophobicity and oleophobicity.