The preparation and aggregation behaviors of comb-like thermally-responsive fluoropolymer

Amphipathic comb-like fluoropolymer (P(OEGMA-co-FHA)) based on oligomer (ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) and 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyl acrylate (FHA) monomers was prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, which was first characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ( 9 F, 1 H) nuclear magnetic resonance. And their aggregation behaviors at different temperatures were studied by transmittance,fluorescence spectroscopy,dynamic light scattering,transmission electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering and rheology. The results show that P (OEGMA-co-FHA) has thermal responsiveness, which leads to changes in aggregation behaviors with the increase of temperature. Low critical solution temperature (LCST) was 45 °C. The critical associating concentration (CAC) values are 1.85 and 1.61 g/L at room temperature and 35 °C respectively. Moreover, the particles of P (OEGMA-co-FHA) was about 20 nm at room temperature and aggregated to about 100 nm at 60 °C. The viscosity of P (OEGMA-co-FHA) increase and had stronger shear-thin behaviors.