Convenient synthesis of novel fluorinated polyurethane hybrid latexes and core-shell structures via emulsion polymerization process with self-emulsification of polyurethane

Novel fluorinated polyurethane hybrid latexes in the size range of 40–50 nm, fluoroalkyl acrylate as fluorinated monomers, with various fluorine content (F% = 9∼26 wt%) were successfully prepared via emulsion polymerization process without traditional emulsifier. The waterborne polyurethane, which was synthesized by using isophronediisocyanate, dimethylol propionic acid, polyethylene glycols, etc., served not only as copolymerizable macromonomer but also as polymeric high molecular weight emulsifier. The structures of polyurethane macromonomer and fluorinated polyurethane were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and H¹-NMR. Particle size, zeta potential, micromorphology of the latex par.ticles, and surface properties were investigated by dynamic light scattering, potential particle size analyzer, transmission electron microscopy, and contact angle measurement, respectively. Results illustrated that the advantage of this process is that the size of fluorinated polyurethane hybrid particle is less sensitive to the composition. Furthermore, it was showed that fluorinated polyurethane latex particles had core-shell structures, especially when the content of fluorine was 26.08 wt%. Moreover, there was an obvious migration of fluorinated groups to the surface during the formation of fluorinated polymer films, although fluorinated groups were covered by polyurethane in latex particles.