Surface Properties of Fluorinated Acrylate Polymer Latex Films

The surface chemical compositions of fluorinated latex films and the dynamic contact angles of water were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a Kruss interface tension measurement, respectively. The surface tensions of the films were calculated by the equation of state approach using the dynamic contact angles, and the effect of temperature on the wetting behavior of these films was investigated. It was shown that the F 1s signal intensity from the outermost surface of these fluorinated latex films was stronger than that from the interior surface of the film and that the surface tension showed a linear decrease with the increase of density of fluorine atoms on the latex film surface to a certain extent. The surface tension rapidly decreased with the increase of fluorinated lateral chains (Rf) content in the copolymer with longer Rf (carbon atom number n>6). The water receding contact angles (θr) on the latex films sharply decreased with the increase of n value, then leveled off nearly at n=10, and remained almost unchanged when n>10. In addition, θr increased more remarkably with the increase of F content in the poly (protonated acrylate- co-fluorinated acrylate) with short hydrocarbon side chains. The water wetting ability of the fluorinate latex films became slightly better only when temperature was more than 40°C.