Synthesis and water repellency of polymers with fluorinated alkyl group and isocyanate group

The copolymers were prepared by the emulsion copolymerization of fluoroalkylacrylate-stearylacrylate-m-isopropenyl-alpha, alpha'-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (TMI) in order to obtain water repellent polymers. The respective copolymerization rates of the three monomers considerably depended upon the use of the nonionic emulsifier and the nonionic-cationic mixed emusifier, and the optimum conditions were obtained. The particle sizes of the copolymers were in the range of 105 to 222 nm. The particle sizes of the copolymers prepared by the use of the mixed emulsifiers were smaller than those of the copolymers prepared by the use of the nonionic emulsifier. The reactions of both TMI-N-methyl acetamide and TMI-cellobiose did not take place. However, the reaction of TMI-n-butylamine occurred. The water contact angles before and after washing three times for nylon and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics coated with the copolymer prepared by the use of mixed emulsifier were about 139 degrees and 133 degrees. Therefore, the copolymer showed good durable repellency for nylon and PET.