UV-CURABLE FLUORINE-CONTAINING IPN SYSTEM FOR FABRIC WATER-REPELLENCY TREATMENT

A fluorinated acrylate monomer, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5-octafluoropentyl-methacrylate (OFPMA) was synthesized from a reaction between methacrylol chloride and fluorine containing alcohol (2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5-octafluoropentanol, OFPOH). The fluorine containing acrylate co-polymer (OFPMA-MA) was prepared by a solution copolymerization of OFPMA and methyl acrylate (MA). An UV-curable fluorine containing inter-penetrating polymeric network (IPN) system was formulated by mixing OFPMA-MA copolymer with UV curable epoxy acrylate oligomer. The UV-curable IPN system was coated on fabric surface and cured by UV radiation process. Upon UV curing, the highly cross-linked polymer anchored into fabric fibers that enhance the washing durability of treated fabric. The fluorinated acrylate monomer (OFPMA) and UV-curable epoxy-acrylate oligomer (UV-epoxy) were characterized by FT-IR and NMR. The water repellency of the treated fabric surface was exhibited that related to its fluorine content of UV-cured IPN system. The fluorine contents of treated fabrics after washing were identified by SEM-EDS and their surface properties were proved by the contact angle measurements and Kawabata fabric evolution system (KES-FB).