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Polyurethanes containing oxetane-derived poly(2,2-substituted-1,3-propylene oxide) soft blocks: copolymer effect on
Umit Makal1, Tomoko Fujiwara, Robert S Cooke
1Department of Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 23284-3028, USA.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|November 3, 2005
Summary
New polyurethanes with unique fluorinated and brominated segments exhibit unusual wetting properties. These advanced materials show potential for specialized surface applications due to their tunable surface characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Synthesis of hydroxy-terminated poly(2,2-substituted-1,3-propylene oxide) telechelics and co-telechelics.
- Incorporation of semifluorinated and/or bromomethyl pendant groups into polymer chains.
- Development of novel polyurethane materials for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel telechelic polyethers with specific functional groups.
- To investigate the surface properties of polyurethanes incorporating these novel telechelics.
- To understand the relationship between polymer structure and surface wetting behavior.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of telechelics and co-telechelics from substituted oxetanes.
- Polyurethane synthesis using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 1,4-butanediol (BD).
- Surface analysis via tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) and dynamic contact angle (DCA).
Main Results:
- Polyurethanes containing co-telechelics [P(3FOx-BrOx)] showed enhanced advancing contact angles (theta(adv)) and reduced receding contact angles (theta(rec)) compared to homo-telechelic counterparts.
- A specific formulation (IPDI-BD(40)/P(3FOx/BrOx-1:1)) exhibited a significant contact angle difference (Deltatheta = 84 degrees).
- Wetting behavior correlated with the content of fluorinated and brominated segments, suggesting a reversible H-bonding mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Novel telechelic polyethers with fluorinated and bromomethyl groups enable the creation of polyurethanes with distinct surface properties.
- The observed unusual wetting behavior is attributed to the specific chemical structure and potential intermolecular interactions.
- These findings offer insights into designing polymers with tailored surface characteristics for various technological applications.