Synthesis of fluorine-containing dispersions and an environmental scanning electron microscope analysis of their morphology when applied to cotton fabrics

Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) was used to monitor surface wetting, adsorption and film formation of aqueous fluorine-containing polymer dispersions on cotton fabrics. Performance of such dispersions, useful as water, oil, and soil repellent finishes, was correlated with homopolymer and copolymer composition. In addition to the commercially available. fluorine-containing dispersions (Dipolir® 480) model dispersions of hydrophobic and amphiphilic fluorine-containing polymers were prepared. Amphiphilic copolymer dispersions were obtained by emulsion copolymerizations of perfluorooctylethylmethacrylate with hydrophobic trimethylsilylmethacrylate, which serves as a precursor of the hydrophilic methacrylic acid and permits random incorporation of methacrylic acid upon insitu hydrolysis of poly(perfluorooctylethylmethacrylate-co-trimethylsilylmethacrylate). While poly(perfluorooctylethylmethacrylate) failed to wet cotton surfaces, incorporation of methacrylic acid promoted both wetting and film formation, as evidenced by film bridges between single fibers.