title: Fluorinated amphiphilic polymers and their blends for fouling-release applications: the benefits of a triblock copolymer surface.
abstract: Surface active triblock copolymers (SABC) with mixed polyethylene glycol (PEG) and two different semifluorinated alcohol side chains, one longer than the other, were blended with a soft thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS). The surface composition of these blends was probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The surface reconstruction of the coatings in water was monitored qualitatively by dynamic water contact angles in air as well as air bubble contact angle measurements in water. By blending the SABC with SEBS, we minimize the amount of the SABC used while achieving a surface that is not greatly different in composition from the pure SABC. The 15 wt % blends of the SABC with long fluoroalkyl side chains showed a composition close to that of the pure SABC while the SABC with shorter perfluoroakyl side chains did not. These differences in surface composition were reflected in the fouling-release performance of the blends for the algae, Ulva and Navicula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
authors.forename: Harihara S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.forename: Youngjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Dimitriou
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cone
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Handlin
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callow
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Callow
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ober
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols