Preparation of composite fluoropolymers with enhanced dewetting using fluorinated silsesquioxanes as drop-in modifiers

Abstract

Composite fluoropolymers were prepared by solvent blending fluorinated POSS (F-POSS) with perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers. The semifluorinated PFCB aryl ether polymers were shown to be hydrophobic, but demonstrated complete wetting by hydrocarbon-based liquids. Upon the incorporation of F-POSS as a drop-in modifier at low weight percent loadings, the composite fluoropolymer spin cast films exhibited increased water in addition to hydrocarbon repellency as determined by contact angle analysis. Composite film surface characterization included SEM and AFM analyses which showed excellent F-POSS dispersion and increased surface roughness. Thermal properties of the blended films were analysed using DSC and this demonstrated that the incorporation of F-POSS did not affect the bulk matrix properties inherent of PFCB aryl ether polymers. This work demonstrated that optimized F-POSS PFCB aryl ether polymer blend formulations have potential use as hydro- and oleophobic materials for seals, fibers, and coatings.