Synthesis and characterization of polyacrylate derivatives having protected isocyanate groups and fluorinated alkyl groups

The copolymerizations of 2-fluorohexylethyl acrylate (FA) with 2-(o-(1′-methylpropylidenamino) carboxylamino) ethyl methacrylate (MEM) with different molar ratios of the two monomers were carried out in methyl ethyl ketone using α,α′, -azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator to synthesize water repellent polyacrylate derivatives with protected isocyanate groups. The contents of FA and MEM in the copolymers were analyzed by NMR. The monomer reactivity ratios of MEM (1) and FA (2) were determined by Kelen-Tüdös plot as follows : r₁ = 1.59 and r₂ = 0.50. The number-average molecular weights of the copolymers were in the range of 39400 to 72400 and the polydispersity indexes were about 1.5. The protected isocyanate groups in the copolymers were converted into isocyanate groups above 150°C. The contact angle of the copolymer with 65 mol% of FA for water was about 95°.