title: Fluorine-Enriched Melt-Blown Fibers from Polymer Blends of Poly(butylene terephthalate) and a Fluorinated Multiblock Copolyester.
abstract: Melt-blown fibers (dav ∼1 μm) were produced from blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and a partially fluorinated random multiblock copolyester (PFCE) leading to enhanced hydrophobicity and even superhydrophobicity (static water contact angle = 157 ± 3°) of the associated fiber mats. XPS measurements demonstrated quantitatively that the surface fluorine content increased systematically with the bulk loading of PFCE, rising to nearly 20 atom %, which corresponds to 41 wt % PFCE at a bulk loading of 10 wt %. The PBT/PFCE fibers exhibit greater fluorine surface segregation than either melt-blown PBT/poly(ethylene-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PBT/PECTFE) fibers or electrospun fibers obtained from blends of poly(styrene) and fluoroalkyl end-capped polystyrene (PS/PSCF). Dynamic contact angle measurements further demonstrated decreased surface adhesion energy of the melt-blown PBT/PFCE fiber mats due to the blooming of PFCE to the surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
authors.forename: Zaifei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Macosko
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
authors.forename: Frank S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bates
keywords: PBT fibers; fluorinated copolyester; melt-blown; superhydrophobic; surface segregation