Nanostructured hybrid networks based on highly fluorinated acrylates

A dual-curing process is described for obtaining highly fluorinated acrylic networks containing nanosilica. The new materials showed improved hardness, while maintaining the hydrophobicity of the fluorinated polymer. They were obtained by UV-curing a suitable mixture of a perfluoropolyetherurethanediacrylate and alkoxysilanes, followed by a thermal treatment during which the sol–gel process took place. The obtained crosslinked networks had a complex morphology: nanometric silica particles were formed, as observed by TEM, and embedded in a biphasic crosslinked matrix made of perfluoropolyether domains and of copolymeric crosslinked domains containing the polyurethane acrylic units and siloxane chains formed by the alkoxides condensation.