The solubility of terpolymers containing alkyl, and perfluoroalkyl side chains as well as succinic acid moieties in the main chain, P[RFMA0.2-co-RHMA0.65-co-MAH0.15] (RH = C₄H₉- or C12H25-, RF- = C10H₄F19-) with ca. 20 mol % fluorinated side chains and 10⁻22 mol % of succinic anhydride rings was tested in a number of solvents varying from water to non polar mineral oils. The polymers are well soluble in fluorinated solvents like Freon-113® and 1,3-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzene, in semi-polar solvents like chloroform, THF or lower esters and also in hydrocarbons with polymers containing dodecyl methacrylate. In self-emulsification experiments, a stable water emulsion of P[F8H2MA0.2-co-BMA0.65-co-MAH0.15] was obtained. The dispersability and emulsification of these polymers in mixtures of organic solvents and water yielded stable emulsions in the presence of additional surfactant. Thin films coated from organic solutions as well as from emulsions on glass resulted in water and oil-repelling surfaces with contact angles up to 140° against water and 71° against hexadecane. An enhancing effect of annealing was not observed.
Keywords: contact angle; film formation; perfluorinated polymers; self-emulsification; solubility.