Graft copolymers of a backbone polmer and a perfluoroalkyl group containing monomer derived from fumaric and related acids

Abstract

Abstract A graft copolymer of a backbone polymer to which is grafted a fluorinated unsaturated monomer compound of the formula (R.sub.f --A).sub.n --PG wherein n is an integer of 2 or 3, R.sub.f is a perfluoroalkyl group, preferably of at least 3 carbon atoms, A is a linking group, and PG is a polymerizable group derived from fumaric and related acids, which reluctantly homopolymerizes in the presence of free radical generating initiators. Such graft copolymers have very low free surface energies especially when compared to the ungrafted backbone polymer. Other physical state properties of the graft copolymer compared with the ungrafted backbone polymer are essentially the same. The graft copolymers are obtained by mixing together from 0.01 to about 30 percent by weight of the fluoro monomer defined with the backbone polymer at or above the melting temperature of the backbone polymer, preferably in the presence of a free radical generating initiator for from a few seconds to about twenty minutes. Preferred embodiments are ethylene-propylene terpolymers or polyethylene, to which is grafted a bis(1,1,2,2tetrahydroperfluoroalkyl) fumarate.

Inventors

• 👤 Karl Friedrich Mueller

Bibliographic Details