Don Lee Kleyer

The influence of perfluoropolyether silane structural modification on performance when used as surface treatment agents

SummaryImparting oil and water repellency on surfaces is easily achieved with the use of fluoroalkyl-modified silanes. Whilst perfluoroalkyl-modified silanes exhibit high static and advancing water and oil contact angles, their low receding contact angles mean that water and oil will not readily slide over treated surfaces. However, modified perfluoropolyether (PFPE) silanes, whilst exhibiting high static and advancing water and oil contact angles, also exhibit high receding contact angles, resulting in surfaces where the sliding contact angle is very low. The influence of structure modification of the silane and the perfluoropolyether component are examined along with the organic linking group. Their impact on performance using both the dip coating method and the chemical vapour adsorption method is discussed.