SURFACE-PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURE OF POLY(PERFLUOROALKYLETHYL-METHACRYLATE)

Homopolymer of poly(perfluoroalkylethyl methacrylate) - CF3(CF2)(5)CH2 CH2OCOCCH3CH2- (PFMA) was prepared by free-radical polymerization. Sur face characterization of PFMA was performed by contact angle measureme nts and ESCA, The composition and structure of the outermost layer of the PFMA surface were analyzed. The outermost layer that primarily aff ects the surface properties of PFMA could be confirmed to consist of m ainly perfluoroalkyl groups. Some of the ester groups of PFMA in the o utermost layer were inferred to be exposed directly to the air: side, and it was suggested that the perfluoroalkyl groups in the outermost l ayer are arranged irregularly to the air side. Annealing can arrange t he perfluoroalkyl groups to be more perpendicularly oriented at the po lymer-air interface. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.