Effect of a fluoroalkyl-functional curing agent on the wettability, thermal and mechanical properties of hydrophobic biobased epoxy coatings

Abstract

Over the past several decades, producing materials from fossil-based sources has become a serious problem because such action continues to contribute to global warming and contamination of the ecosystem. Thus, it is highly desirable to address this issue through producing functional materials via green chemistry such as the use of renewable compounds. In this paper, the preparation of hydrophobic coatings based on isosorbide, a derivative of polysaccharides, is reported. The inherently hydrophilic thermoset derived from isosorbide was made hydrophobic through the use of the hydrophobic curing agent F8815. The influence of the F8815 concentration on the decomposition temperature, glass transition temperature and storage modulus of the biobased samples was explored using TGA, DSC and DMA, respectively. The results showed that, despite of its poor mechanical and thermal properties, incorporation of F8815 served to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the isosorbide-based polymers. Deconvolution analysis of FTIR spectra and SEM images provided insightful information on the participation of F8815 in the polymer network.