POLYMERS AND COPOLYMERS OF N-1,1-DIHYDROFLUOROALKYL ACRYLAMIDES

A series of six new fluorinated acrylamide monomers have been studied, These included 1,1-dihydrotrifluoroethyl acrylamide, 1,1-dihydroheptafluoro butyl acrylamide and the N-methyl, N-n-butyl- and N-isobutyl derivatives of the latter. Homopolymerization of the fluoroacrylamide monomers readily proceeded both in bulk and in solution with benzoyl peroxide. Liquid monomers polymerized in emulsion with persulfate initiators. All homopolymers were thermoplastics which could be cast to yield clear transparent films. The electrical. thermal, and dilute solution behavior of some of these materials has been studied. Copolymerization proceeded with a number of co-monomers which included alkyl acrylates, fluoroalkyl acrylates, vinyl ethers, and several dienes. Essential parameters such as monomer reactivity ratios, intrinsic viscosities and empirical slope constants k were evaluated for selected copolymers.