Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorinated Polyacrylate Graft Copolymers Capable as Water and Oil Repellent Finishing Agents

A facile method for preparation of fluorinated polyacrylate was developed. Novel multifunctional graft copolymer (GPF-1, 2, 3) containing short fluoroalkyl side chains and reactive groups were successfully prepared by grafting fluoroalcohols to polyacrylate. The obtained products were characterized by H-1 NMR, F-19 NMR, FTIR, GPC, TGA, and XPS analyses. GPF-1, 2, 3 exhibited very low surface free energy (17.77-25.81 mJ/m(2)). Cotton fabric treated by GPF-1 had the highest water and oil repellency rating which was 100 and 6, respectively (AATCC test methods). The water and oil repellency rating was kept as 90 and 5, respectively, after 10 soaping cycles or 2 h uninterrupted soaping which indicated a very good washing durability. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 84-92, 2011