Synthesis and characterization of bulk self-cleaning polymers

POLY 104

John A. Howarter, jhowarte@purdue.edu and Jeffrey P. Youngblood, jpyoungb@purdue.edu. School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Perfluorinated polyethylene glycol surfactants were incorporated into random copolymers to create self-cleaning polymers which could be easily coated on to surfaces post-synthesis. Acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, and hydroxyethyl methacrylate were used as comonomer. Comonomer feed ratio was varied to establish minimum surfactant content required to elicit self-cleaning ability. Polymers were compositionally characterized with NMR and GPC. Solubility was tested in a variety of solvents to predict durability of the polymers when used as a coating. Wettability of the coating was characterized with respect to water and hexadecane, which served as a representative foulant. Based on wettability results, select copolymers were assessed with respect to their ability to mitigate fogging in various environments.