Preparation and characterization of fluorine-containing acrylate copolymers by 60Co γ-ray radiation co-polymerization

A series of fluorine-containing acrylate copolymers were prepared by Co-60 gamma-ray radiation co-polymerization in a mixed acrylate system, including butyl acrylate, acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide and perfluoroalkylethyl methacrylate (FMA). The yield of the copolymers reached 96% when they were radiated for 34 h with the radiation dose of 1 kGy/h. Moreover, the surface structure and properties of the copolymers were determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle (CA) analysis. And the glass-transition temperature was measured by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). It was found that the fluoropolymer was of large water static contact angle and fluorine was enriched at the polymer-air interface, The relationship between the copolymer composition, annealed temperature and static contact angle was also discussed in detail. Furthermore, when the FMA content reached 3%, the cotton treated with our products exhibited better oil repellency. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.