Effect of polymer crystallinity on the wetting properties of certain fluoroalkyl acrylates

The wetting properties of a series of polyacrylates containing the fluoroalkyl group {article}{empty}{document}[-- ( CF₂ -- )₂ CF₂ H\{document} have been studied. Where n is 7 and 9, the polyacrylates are highly crystalline at room temperature. Since the polymers were prepared under atactic free‐radical conditions and the polyacrylates with shorter alkyl groups (where n is 3 or 5) were not crystalline at room temperature, the crystallinity is presumed to occur as a result of side‐chain packing and not involve the backbone. The polymers become more wet‐table (higher γ c ) as polymer crystallinity was reduced by quenching or heating past T m . Correlations have been made between the work of Zisman and co‐workers on the wetting properties of various fluorinated acid monolayers and the wetting properties of these fluoroalkyl acrylates. The results obtained in this study concerning the influence of polymer crystallinity on surface wetting are discussed in relation to the findings of Schonhorn and Ryan on the wettability of polyethylene single crystal aggregates.