The attachment of amphiphilic pegylated hyperbranched fluoropolymers to glass substrates through the use of adhesive layers

Amphiphilic cross-linked networks with nanoscopically-resolved features have been prepared from functional hyperbranched fluoropolymers (HBFPs) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The ability to control the formation of nanoscale phase-segregated domains instills exceptional properties to the materials, including excellent anti-biofouling and fouling-release performance, atypical uptake and release of volatile guest molecules, and unusual mechanical properties. Several different chemistries have been developed to acquire HBFPs, such as polycondensation of multi-functional monomers and self-condensing vinyl living radical (co)polymerization. The presence of a large amount of latent functionalities on the resulting HBFPs has allowed us to develop the cross-linking chemistry with PEG, but also to achieve adhesion of such crosslinked networks to a variety of substrates. This paper highlights advances that have been made with these materials recently, with special attention to approaches to overcome difficulties involving the adhesion of these materials to glass or other substrates. A thorough discussion of new adhesion techniques, including the application of reactive isothiocyanate coupling reactions and epoxies for lamination, is also presented.