Simple method for lowering poly(methyl methacrylate) surface energy with fluorination

• Published in: Polymer journal 2015-01, Vol.47 (1), p.66-70
• Main Authors: Tokuda, Kaya, Ogino, Tomoya, Kotera, Masaru, Nishino, Takashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 140/146; 639/638/455/958; Albumins; Biomaterials; Bioorganic Chemistry; Chemical industry; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Clotting; Contact angle; Fingerprints; Fluorination; Free energy; Heat treatment; Hydrophobicity; Immersion; original-article; Photoelectrons; Polymer Sciences; Polymethyl methacrylate; Polymethyl methacrylates; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Submerging; Surface chemistry; Surface energy; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0032-3896; 1349-0540
• DOI: 10.1038/pj.2014.91

A poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface was fluorinated by immersion in 3-(perfluoro-7-methyloctyl)-1,2-epoxypropene and subsequent heat treatment at 120 °C. The water contact angle on PMMA increased from 67° to 111° after the fluorination treatment with no loss of optical transparency. This high contact angle corresponds to a surface free energy of 10 mJ m −2 , which is much lower than that of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (22 mJ m −2 ). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the surface was almost completely covered by fluoroalkyl groups, which imparted high hydrophobicity. This simple fluorination method effectively lowers the surface free energy of PMMA. The fluorinated PMMA also demonstrated low albumin adsorption, low blood clotting and antifouling properties against fingerprints. These characteristics reveal that fluorinated PMMA generated by a simple immersion treatment could serve as an antithrombogenic or antifingerprint fouling material. Poly(methyl methacrylate) surface was fluorinated by simply immersing into 3-(perfluoro-7-methyloctyl)-1,2-epoxypropene, followed by heat treating at 120 °C. The contact angle of water for fluorinated PMMA increased to 111° after the treating. This value corresponds to the surface free energy of 10 mJ m −2 , which is much lower than that (18 mJ m −2 ) of polytetrafluoroethylene. The fluorinated PMMA showed low albumin adsorption. When materials come into contact with blood, protein will rapidly adsorb onto the surfaces, which plays a trigger of clotting. However, protein adsorption was reduced on this very hydrophobic surface.