Switching surface polarity: synthesis and characterization of a fluorinated block copolymer with surface‐active tert ‐butoxycarbonyl groups

The surface behavior of a series of block copolymers constructed from poly(styrene-b-semifluorinated side-chain modified isoprene) copolymer was evaluated. The semifluorinated side groups were attached in a post-polymerization step. The presence of tert-butoxy carbonyl end groups permitted conversion of the polymer surface from a non-polar hydrocarbon to a polar hydroxylated structure. The microstructure of these block copolymers was investigated using both electron microscopy and small-angle x-ray diffraction. The surface properties of the as-prepared polymer films were dominated by the fluorinated block and were found to be independent of the underlying block copolymer microstructure. After removal of the tert-butoxy carbonyl end groups, a disordered, polar surface was produced. The surface properties of these films were studied using contact angle measurements and other surface analysis techniques.