The adsorption behavior of a model compound for surface-active component of asphaltenes, N-(1-hexylheptyl)-N'-(12-carboxylicdodecyl) perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic bisimide (C5Pe), and detachment behavior of asphaltene deposit films for high-density polymer brushes were investigated. Zwitterionic poly(3-(N-2-methacryloyloxyethyl-N,N-dimethyl)ammonatopropanesulfonate (PMAPS) brushes and hydrophobic poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) (PHMA) brushes exhibit less C5Pe adsorption than poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The asphaltene deposit films on the PHMA brush detached in a model oil (toluene/n-heptane=1/4 (v/v)), and the asphaltene films on the PMAPS brush detached in water. The antifouling character was explained by the interface free energy for the polymer-brush/asphaltenes (γSA) and polymer-brush/toluene (γSO).
Keywords: adsorption; antifouling; asphaltene; interface free energy; polymer brush; surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization.