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Responsive Copolymer Brushes of Poly[(2‐(Methacryloyloxy)Ethyl) Trimethylammonium Chloride] (PMETAC) and Poly( 1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H‐Perfluorodecyl acrylate) (PPFDA) to Modulate Surface Wetting Properties
Author(s) -
Politakos Nikolaos,
Azinas Stavros,
Moya Sergio Enrique
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201500630
Subject(s) - contact angle , copolymer , wetting , materials science , polymer chemistry , acrylate , polymer , atom transfer radical polymerization , chemical engineering , methacrylate , polymerization , ethyl acrylate , amphiphile , composite material , engineering
Polymer brushes have a large potential for controlling properties such as surface lubrication or wetting through facile functionalization. Polymer chemistry, chain density, and length impact on the wetting properties of brushes. This study explores the use of diblock copolymer brushes with different block length and spatial arrangement of the blocks to tune surface wettability. Block copolymer brushes of the polyelectrolyte [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (PMETAC) with a contact angle of 17° and a hydrophobic block of 1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H‐perfluorodecyl Acrylate (PPFDA) with a contact angle of 130° are synthesized by RAFT polymerization. By changing the sequence of polymerization either block is synthesized as top or bottom block. By varying the concentration of initiator the length of the blocks is varied. Contact angle values with intermediate values between 17° and 130° are measured. In addition, by changing solvent pH and in presence of a different salt the contact angle of the copolymer brushes can be fine tuned. Brushes are characterized by atomic force microscopy, Raman confocal microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.