Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA)

•Synthesis of PHFBA via controlled radical polymerization with CPDTB as RAFT agent.•1H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis showed the presence of RAFT end group in the PHFBA.•This PHFBA was used as the macro-RAFT agent for block copolymerization with BA.•This PHFBA had higher thermal stability than the same prepared by conventional FRP.

This investigation reports reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA) in dioxane. In this case 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPDTB) was used as the chain transfer agent (CTA) and 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) (ABCVA) was used as the thermal initiator. The linear kinetic plot i.e. ln([M]0/[M]) vs polymerization time indicated that polymerization was first order with reference to monomer concentration. The resultant polymers had controlled molecular weight and had well-defined RAFT end group, as evidenced by 1H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses. These polymers were also characterized by GPC, 19F NMR, DSC and TGA analyses.

Graphical abstractThis manuscript describes the homopolymerization 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutylacrylate (HFBA) via RAFT polymerization using 4-cyanopentanoicacid dithiobenzoate as chain transfer agent (CTA) in 1,4-dioxane. Variation of initiator to RAFT reagent ratio and polymerization at different temperatures has been studied.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide