UV-resistant amorphous fluorinated coating for anodized titanium surfaces

In this work, a high molecular weight copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro-4-trifluoromethoxy-1,3-dioxole (HYFLON® AD60) and two perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) containing ammonium phosphate or triethoxysilane functionalities, FLUOROLINK® F10 and FLUOROLINK® S10 respectively, have been evaluated as protective coatings that can be easily applied on anodized titanium surfaces. Water and n-dodecane contact angle measurements have been recorded by using the sessile drop method for bare and coated surfaces in order to determine the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties of the coatings. The UV-stability of coatings have been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses and by observing the variation of water contact angles on coated substrates before and after UV irradiation at regular time intervals. The thickness of the fluorinated films has been measured by ellipsometry and by weight evaluation. Preliminary tests of the adhesion between films and substrate have been conducted.