Poly , fluorinated

In 1954 the surface fluorination of polyethylene sheets by using a soHd CO2 cooled heat sink was patented (44). Later patents covered the fluorination of PVC (45) and polyethylene bottles (46). Studies of surface fluorination of polymer films have been reported (47). The fluorination of polyethylene powder was described (48) as a fiery intense reaction, which was finally controlled by dilution with an inert gas at reduced pressures. Direct fluorination of polymers was achieved in 1970 (8,49). More recently, surface fluorinations of poly(vinyl fluoride), polycarbonates, polystyrene, and poly(methyl methacrylate), and the surface fluorination of containers have been described (50,51). Partially fluorinated poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polyamides such as nylon have excellent soil release properties as well as high wettabiUty (52,53). The most advanced direct fluorination technology in the area of single-compound synthesis and synthesis of high performance fluids is currently practiced by 3M Co. of St. Paul, Minnesota, and by Exfluor Research Corp. of Austin, Texas. 

Fluorinated poly(arylene edier)s are of special interest because of their low surface energy, remarkably low water absorption, and low dielectric constants. The bulk—CF3 group also serves to increase the free volume of the polymer, thereby improving various properties of polymers, including gas permeabilities and electrical insulating properties. The 6F group in the polymer backbone enhances polymer solubility (commonly referred to as the fluorine effect ) without forfeiture of die thermal stability. It also increases die glass transition temperature with concomitant decrease of crystallinity. 

I. Benjamin, E.Z. Faraggi, Y. Avny, D. Davydov, and R. Neumann, Fluorinated poly (p-phenylene vinylene) copolymers preparation and use in light-emitting materials, Chem. Mater., 8 352-355, 1996. 

Synthesis of Fluorinated Poly(Aryl Ether)s Containing 1,4-Naphthalene Moieties... 

Scheme 3. synthesis of fluorinated poly (aryl ether ketone )s 3-7... 

Poly(ether ketone)s 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as DMAc and NMP and in chlorinated solvents such as chloroform. The improved solubility of these fluorinated poly(ether ketone)s can be explained by the presence of both the flexible hexafluoroisopropylidene groups and the bulky 1,4-naphthalene moieties, which inhibit polymer crystallization and facilitate the penetration of solvent molecules between the polymer chains. 

Six novel fluorinated poly(aryl ether)s containing 1,4-naphthalene moieties were synthesized in high yield using 2,2-bis[4-( 1 -naphthoxy)phenyl]hexafluoro-propane (1). Oxidative coupling ofl yielded a polymer with high 7, low moisture absorption, and low dielectric constant that could be cast into flexible films. The low dielectric constant and low moisture absorption of 6FNE may make it useful as a dielectric insulator in microelectronics applications. 

Synthesis and Structure-Property Relationships of Lo w-Dielectric-C onstant Fluorinated Poly acrylates ... 

Another interesting and possibly useful result of fluorination of XeF2-treated polymer surfaces is decreased gas permeability. For example, fluorinated poly-... 

Using a fluorinated benzocyclobutene-based monomer (Figure 18.4) should provide at least one advantage over the already promising properties of fluorinated poly(j9-xylylene). All the desirable properties such as low dielectric constant and low affinity for water should remain but the thermal stability should be enhanced because of the cross-linking that would accompany the generation of these films. The synthesis and polymerization paths for poly(octafluorobisbenzocyclobutene) are depicted in Scheme 5. 

Before fluorination, the dielectric constant ofpoly(bisbenzocyclobutene) was 2.8, and this value was reduced to 2.1 after plasma treatment. No data were reported in the paper on characterization of structure or properties, except for the dielectric constant of the modified poly(bisbenzocyclobutene). The authors did report that the thermal stability offluorinatedpoly(vinylidenefluoride) was inferior to the original poly(vinylidenefluoride) when treated in a similar way. One of the probable reasons for the low thermal stability is that the NF3 plasma degraded the polymer. According to their results, the thickness of fluorinated poly(bisbenzo-cyclobutene) was reduced by 30%. The same phenomenon was observed for other hydrocarbon polymers subjected to the NF3 plasma process. A remaining question is whether plasma treatment can modify more than a thin surface layer of the cured polymer Additionally, one of the side products generated was hydrogen fluoride, which is a serious drawback to this approach. 

Fluorinated poly(imide-ether-amide)s are readily soluble in organic solvents like dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), pyridine or tetrahydrofu-ran (THF) and give flexible films by casting of such solutions. These polymers exhibit decomposition temperatures above 360°C, and glass transition temperatures in the 221-246° C range. The polymer films have a low dielectric constant and tough mechanical properties. 

Recently the synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated poly(aryl ether)s containing perfluorophenylene moieties " " was also reported. These fluorinated polyethers were prepared by reaction of decafluorobiphenyl with bisphenols. These polymers exhibit low dielectric constants, low moisture absorption, and excellent thermal and mechanical properties. Tough, transparent films of the polymers were prepared by solution-casting or compression-molding. The fluorinated poly(aryl ether)s containing perfluorophenylene moieties are good candidates for use as coatings in microelectronics applications. 

Functional perfluoropolyethers (Figure 14.7) can also be prepared by direct fluorination in high yields. Difunctional perfluoropolyethers based on fluorinated poly(ethylene glycol) are of particular interest as possible precursors for elastomers, which should have outstanding high-temperature and low-temperature properties. 

Fig. 8 Chemical structures of fluorinated poly(aryl ether ketone)s...

Lee HJ, Lee MH,Oh MC,Ahn JH, Hwang WY, Han SG (1999) Low-loss optical polymer waveguide applications based on crosslined fluorinated poly(arylene ether)s. In Organic thin films for photonic applications. Optical Society of America, Washington DC, p 197... 

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