Fluorocarbon End-functionalized Polymers from Poly(arylether) Dendritic Initiators

• Published in: Macromolecular symposia 2005-12, Vol.231 (1), p.103-109
• Main Authors: Narrainen, A. Pillay, Hutchings, L. R., Feast, W. J., Thompson, R. L., Ansari, I. A., Clarke, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bromination; Contact angle; contact angles; dendrimers; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrophobicity; initiators; ion beam analysis; Ion beams; living radical polymerization; Molecular weight; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; polystyrene; Polystyrene resins; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Radicals; Surface chemistry
• ISSN: 1022-1360; 1521-3900
• DOI: 10.1002/masy.200590013

Fréchet‐type poly(arylether) first and second generation (G1 and G2 respectively) dendrons were prepared from 1‐(bromomethyl)‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene. The latter and the brominated versions of the two dendrons were successfully employed in the copper mediated living radical polymerization (LRP) of styrene‐d8 giving polymers of predictable molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. Contact angle measurements and ion beam analysis were used to explore the adsorption of these materials to the air‐polymer surface in blended films with unfunctionalized hydrogenous polystyrene. Although contact angle analysis indicated only modest changes in the hydrophobicity and lipophobicity of the surface, ion beam analysis clearly showed the formation of an excess layer of dendron functionalized polymer at the exposed surface that increased with increasing fluorine content.