Well-controlled radical copolymerization of styrene with 2-[(perfluorononenyl)oxy] ethyl methacrylate and characterization of its copolymers

The atom transfer radical copolymerization of styrene with 2-[(perfluorononenyl)oxy] ethyl methacrylate was performed in benzotrifluoride at 100 degreesC in the presence of 1-bromoethyl benzene (1-BrEB), cuprous bromide (CuBr), and alpha,alpha ' -bipyridine (bpy; [1-BrEB](0)/[CuBr](0)/[bpy](0) = 1/1/3). The experimental results demonstrate that this polymerization proceeded in a living fashion, producing fluorinated random copolymers with narrow polydispersities, controlled molecular weights, and desired unit ratios. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from H-1 NMR spectra. The monomer reactivity ratios were obtained with the Skeist integral method. The copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, and differential scanning calorimetry. The solid surface characteristics of the copolymers were evaluated with contact-angle measurements. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.