Fluorinated vinyl ethers as new surface agents in the photocationic polymerization of vinyl ether resins

The syntheses of fluorinated vinyl ethers (H₂C?CHOCH₂CH₂C_nF_2n+1, n = 6 or 8) and their copolymerizations with bis(4‐vinyloxybutyl) isophthalate are reported. The fluorinated monomers were prepared by the transetherification of ethyl vinyl ether and fluorinated alcohols in a 75% yield. Added in low concentrations (0.1–3.0 wt %) to formulations containing bis(4‐vinyloxybutyl) isophthalate, they did not affect the kinetics of the cationic photopolymerization. The cured films were transparent and showed interesting properties in terms of wettability, hardness, cross‐cut adhesion, and chemical inertness. The fluoromonomers increased the hydrophobicity of the film surface, whereas the adhesion on various substrates such as glass and wood was unchanged. An increase in the methyl ethyl ketone resistance was also observed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2890–2897, 2003