Hyperbranched fluoropolymer and linear poly(ethylene glycol) based amphiphilic crosslinked networks as efficient antifouling coatings: An insight into the surface compositions, topographies, and morphologies

Abstract

Polymer coatings with features of differing hydrophilicity, mobility, and topography, distributed across a substrate in microscopic and nanoscopic patches were designed as complex materials equipped with sufficient variability in composition, structure, and dynamics to inhibit interactions associated with biomacromolecular fouling. These complex polymer coatings were prepared by the in situ phase separation and crosslinking of mixtures of hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP) and diamino‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), for which the degree of crosslinking, compositions, topographies, and morphologies were varied by alteration of the PEG/HBFP stoichiometries (14, 29, 45, and 55 wt % PEG). This article examines the physicochemical details of HBFP–PEG network coatings prepared on glass substrates, functionalized by 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, as characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact‐angle measurements, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis. Upon incubation in water or artificial seawater, the surfaces underwent reconstruction, which was believed to be driven by the swelling of the PEG domains and the energetic favorability offered by the segregation of PEG to the solid–water interface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6193–6208, 2004

Amphiphilic block copolymer/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) blends and nanocomposites for improved fouling-release

“…Along this line, Gudipati et al (2004Gudipati et al ( , 2005 prepared amphiphilic polymer networks containing hyperbranched fluoropolymers crosslinked with PEG, in which phase segregation resulted in a higher release of Ulva sporelings (young plants) compared to PDMS. More recently the present authors reported on the preparation of SEBS-based coatings containing a polystyrene-based diblock copolymer carrying PEGylated-fluoroalkyl side chains capable of reducing the adhesion of both Ulva sporelings and cells of the diatom Navicula (Martinelli et al 2008).…”

Dendrimers Clicked Together Divergently

“…This combination of functionality and architecture lend the dendrimers toward use as cross-linkers by a process that is similar to that demonstrated for other dendrimers 77,78 and hyperbranched polymers. 79,80 Investigations of the applications of these Click-constructed dendrimers as reactive and multifunctional globular macromolecules are underway. …”

Temperature‐dependent phase‐segregation behavior and antifouling performance of UV‐curable methacrylated PDMS/PEG coatings

“…12 Research has demonstrated that two different algal species, one of which adhered strongly to hydrophobic surfaces, and the other, to hydrophilic surfaces, showed notably weak adhesion to the amphiphilic polymer surfaces. 12 Pioneer research in such binary systems comes from the work of Wooley and coworkers, [13][14][15] who reported amphiphilic polymer coatings prepared by the in situ phase separation and crosslinking of hyperbranched fluoropolymers and linear PEG networks for efficient antifouling coatings. Since then, surface-active block copolymers with fluoroalkyl side chains, amphiphilic semifluorinated block copolymers have been explored in antifouling coatings.…”