Fluorinated acrylic copolymers

Fluorinated polymers find applications in various speciality coatings due to their low surface tension, non-wettability by water and oil, non-adhesive nature and antifouling properties. However, synthesis and composition of such fluorinated polymers remains a proprietary of few manufacturers and also requires expensive fluoro-intermediates. In this study we have adopted a simple method of synthesizing fluorinated acrylic copolymers. Acrylic copolymers based on methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), and functional monomer, 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were synthesized. The pendant OH functionality were partially esterified with tetrafluoro propanoic acid to varying extent and cured with butylated melamine-formaldehyde resin. The fluorine content of the resins was in the range of 4-10%. The clear coatings were studied for their optical, mechanical and protective properties. Incorporation of fluorine was found to extend the protective ability of coatings against atmospheric corrosion. The properties were compared with their non-fluorinated analogs.