Abstract
Fluorinated polymers are intresting macromolecules which due to their unique properties are often used in special applications in building industries, aerospace, chemical engineering, optics, textile treatment and microelectronics. This thesis focusses on the development of phosphorous and silane functional fluorinated polymers through the conventional radical co/terpolymerization of functional monomers with vinylidene difluoride (VDF). These functional monomers were prepared from the modification of 2-(Trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid (MAF) to prepare MAF-esters with the desired functional group. First a fundamental study regarding the kinetics of polymerization of VDF with MAF-TBE revealed that these monomer pair tends to cross propagate resulting in an alternating copolymer. Phosphonate functional MAF (MAF-DMP) was then prepared and its copolymerization with VDF led to phophonate functional PVDF, that after the consequent hydrolysis of the phosphonate group into phosphonic acid showed anticorrosion properties to steel. Following the same concept, a cyclic carbonate functional MAF monomer (MAF-cyCB) was also copolymerized with VDF. The cyclic carbonate groups in the obtained PVDF copolymer was then opened by aminopropyltriethoxysilane to introduce a silane group, that by its hydrolysis allowed the copolymer to adhere strongly onto substrates. Finally, a terpolymer based on PVDF functional with both a phosphonate and a triethoxysilane group is prepared. The silane group was then hydrolyzed and crosslinked to obtain a 3D network of polymers. Finally, the hydrolysis of the phosphonate group into phosphonic acid led to material that can be employed in Eu(III) ion extraction from water.