Alternative Fluoropolymers to Avoid the Challenges Associated with Perfluorooctanoic Acid

Abstract

The degradation of stain-resistant coating materials leads to the release of biopersistent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the environment. In order to find the environmentally friendly substitutes, we have designed and synthesized a series of nonbiopersistant fluorinated polymers containing perfluorobutyl groups in the side chains. The surface properties of the new coating materials were characterized by static and dynamic contact angle measurements. The new coating materials demonstrate promising hydrophobic and oleophobic properties with low surfaces tensions. The wetting properties and surface structure of the polymers were tuned by varying the "spacer" structures between the polymer backbones and the perfluorinated groups of the side chains. The relationship between orientations of the fluorinated side chains and performances of polymer surfaces were further investigated by near-edge X-ray fine absorption structure (NEXAFS) experiments and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Polyfluorinated surfactants (PFS) in paper and board coatings for food packaging

“…This is of environmental and human health concern as diPAPS can be metabolised to PFCA. The PFS typically had fluorinated chain lengths from C 6 to C 16 , where in particular the longer perfluorinated chains could be an issue, as they are more bioaccumulative than the short chains (Guo et al 2008). The PFS which have been studied here are only a subset of what currently is used in food contact materials (US FDA 2010a; BfR 2009).…”

Selected physicochemical aspects of poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances relevant to performance, environment and sustainability—Part one

“…(ACH 2 CH 2 A) m ) can be inserted between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties (Riess, 1995;Krafft and Riess, 1998) This spacer generally increases the hydrophobicity of the surfactant, but might also decrease its performances, as it introduces some lipophilic character, resulting in increasing solubility in organic solvents and fat. It also allows tuning of wetting properties of polymers (Guo et al, 2008). From a chemical reactivity standpoint, a ACH 2 CH 2 A spacer acts as a screen between the F-chain and the polar function, which essentially recovers its ''normal'' properties.…”

Preparation and characterization of fluorinated acrylate copolymer latexes by miniemulsion polymerization under microwave irradiation

“…Most of them are the copolymers of fluorinated acrylate with long perfluoroalkyl groups (>7 fluorocarbons). However, poly (fluoroalkyl acrylates) with long perfluoroalkyl groups have been found to degrade to form perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which can resist degradation and bioaccumulate in the human body [11,12]. But the properties of fluorinated polyacrylate latexes which contain long fluoroalkyl groups are better than those containing short-chain fluoroalkyl groups [13].…”