Preparing Low-Surface-Energy Polymer Materials by Minimizing Intermolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions

In this study, we found that poly(vinyl phenol)/polybenzoxazine (PVPh/PBZ) copolymers feature low surface energies when they possess a minimal number of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. For example, PVPh/PBZ = 30/70 exhibits an extremely low surface energy of 16.8 mJ/m 2 after thermal curing—even lower than that of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (22.0 mJ/m 2 )—based on calculations performed using a two-liquid geometric method. Infrared spectroscopic analyses indicated that a decrease in the degree of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the PVPh/PBZ copolymers resulted in a lower surface free energy. An increase in the intermolecular hydrogen bonding did, however, enhance the thermal properties, namely, the glass-transition temperature, the thermal decomposition temperature, and the char yield. The manipulation of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions is a unique and simple approach toward preparing low-surface-energy materials without the need to employ fluoropolymers or silicones.