Combination of Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) and Click Chemistry for Surface Polymerization of Fluorinated Methacrylate On Iron Particles

The combination of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and click chemistry has been successfully used for surface grafting poly(tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate) on the iron particles. 3-benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsufanyl propionic acid has been synthesized and used as a chain transfer agent. The chain transfer agent was functionalized using alkyne and iron particles were functionalized azide groups. The alkyne functionalized chain transfer agent was used for polymerization of tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate monomer. The synthesized poly(tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate) end-capped with alkyne group was then “clicked” with  azide terminated iron particles. The CTA molecular weight, surface morphology and thermal properties of grafted polymer were characterized. From the electron microscope, the grafted poly(tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate) resulted in uniform thin coating. The grafted polymer–iron particles showed a higher thermal transition temperature compared to non-grafted. The covalent bond between the polymer and the surface of the iron particles restricted the molecular mobility.