Study on the preparation and adhesion properties of fluorinated P(EA-co-HFBA) adhesives

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) materials have a low surface energy, which presents a challenge to bonding with conventional adhesives and consequently limits their application scope. This study explores the copolymerization of fluorinated hexafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA) and ethyl acrylate (EA) to formulate fluorinated acrylate-based P(EA-co-HFBA) adhesives. The incorporation of the fluorinated component significantly lowers the surface energy of the adhesive, achieving levels comparable to those of PTFE. Optimization reveals that at a molar ratio of EA to HFBA of 1:3, the surface energy is reduced to 20.19 mN/m, facilitating effective wettability on PTFE surfaces. Notably, the peel strength of PTFE tape bonded with the fluorinated adhesive on a mirror-polished stainless-steel substrate reaches 13.8 N/25 mm. Furthermore, the presence of the fluorinated component enhances both the thermal stability and water resistance of the adhesive. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for the development of adhesives specifically designed for materials with low surface energy.

Graphic abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is difficult to bond due to its low surface energy. This study examines fluorinated acrylate-based P(EA-co-HFBA) adhesives, which attain a surface energy of 20.19 mN/m. With a 1:3 molar ratio of EA to HFBA, the adhesive achieves a peel strength of 13.8 N/25 mm on PTFE, along with improved thermal stability and water resistance.