Linear fluoropolymer-functionalized silica nanoparticles were prepared and investigated for their ability to reinforce amphiphilic crosslinked polymer networks that are designed as anti-biofouling coatings for application in the marine environment. A core-shell hybrid inorganic-organic nanoparticle was synthesized by a grafting-from approach, utilizing a silica nanoparticle (SNP) core and a linear fluoropolymer shell. After the nanoparticle was surface modified with an amine-functionalized siloxane initiator, atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to propagate linear fluoropolymer growth by a grafting-from methodology. The core-shell nanoparticle was characterized for size (AFM) and chemical functionality (1H NMR, 19F NMR, ATR-FTIR). Investigations into the physical and mechanical properties effects of these fluoropolymer-grafted silica nanoparticles when co-crosslinked within fluoropolymer- and poly(ethylene glycol)-based network coatings are underway.This research was supported by the Texas A&M College of Science, the Office of Naval Research, and the W.T. Doherty-Welch Chair.

Atom transfer radical graft-from functionalization of silica nanoparticles for enhancement of nanocomplex antibiofouling surfaces

245th National Meeting (2013)

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