Synthesis and Properties of Hyperbranched Polyamides Containing Fluoroalkyl Groups at the Branch Ends

Hyperbranched aromatic polyamides with carboxyl groups at the chain ends were synthesized by polycondensation of a few ABx (AB2, AB4, AB8) type monomers based on 5-(4-aminophenoxy)isophthalic acid, which consisted of different degree of branch (DB). Then, a fluoroalkyl group was introduced into the branch ends by a polymer reaction of the hyperbranched polyamide with 2-perfluorobutylethanol. In addition, the surface properties of the polymer films were investigated by XPS analysis and measurements of contact angle of water and diiodomethane. It was found that the surface properties were affected by the degree of branch, where the hyperbranched polymer having DB=0.72 containing fluoroalkyl group exhibited the very low surface free energy.