Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, 2012, 2, 271-277
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jsemat.2012.24041 Published Online October 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/jsemat)
271
Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for
Antifouling Paints
A. Bacha1, R. Méghabar2
1Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Djelfa, Djelfa, Algeria; 2Laboratory of Polymer Chemis-
try, University of Es-Senia, Oran, Algeria.
Received July 8th, 2012; revised August 15th, 2012; accepted August 26th, 2012
ABSTRACT
Antifouling paints are the most reliable way to prevent biofouling of submerged surfaces. The high toxicity of organotin
paints, prompted us to look for ideas to develop paints that do not present environmental risks. In this work, we prepare
a painting by a modification of acrylic acid monomer containing a free carboxyl group. The biocide that is selected is
the perfluorinated chain with eight carbons. Chemical modifications of the resins are made through a radical reaction.
The magnitudes of changes are monitored by proton nuclear magnetic resonance NMR, gel permeation chromatography
(GPC) and the light scattering (LS) at a fixed angle 90°. The glass transition temperature of the surfactant is obtained by
the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The antifouling properties of the paint are followed by exposure of panels
to the marine environment by visual observation.
Keywords: Surfactant; Antifouling; Glass Transition Temperature; Aluminum Panels; Differential Scanning
Calorimetry; Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC)
1. Introduction
The paintings with fluorine atoms are used in many
applications and this is due to their unique properties like
low surface tension, non-adhesive nature and antifouling
properties along. Fluorine is difficult to polarize. This is
especially advantageous for their applications in surface
coatings. Hence fluoropolymers can hinder water reach-
ing the metallic surface in tow ways: fluorinated poly-
mers are not wetted by water and secondly the molecular
absorption of water into these polymers is relatively
small [1]. During recent years, the most successful
antifouling marine paints are those consisting of trior-
ganotin-based. They are hydrolysable polymers containing
triorganotin ester groups that are released by a reaction
with seawater. However, the high toxicity of these
compound has been shown [2-4]. These environmental
concerns lead to develop new antifouling paints, environ-
mental friendly and effective over the long term. Our
work concerns the synthesis of products (perfluorinated
surfactants) that can enter into the formulation of anti-
fouling paints by an economic way.
Perfluorinated surfactants are classified as biocides [5].
In particular salts with perfluorinated chain with at least
eight carbons are effective biocides [6]. The most com-
mon way to present these compound is the radical telo-
merization [7]. The synthesis involves a single step
(Figure 1).
The product is a surfactant with a hydrophobic carbon
chain and a hydrophilic portion represented by a function
in the same loaded organic molecule [8-9]. This property
provides a potentially effective antibacterial effect [9].
This article describes the synthesis, characterization and
biocidal potential of this new surfactant molecule.
2. Experimentation
2.1. Materials
The perfluorinated acrylic surfactant (PAS) was synthe-
sized in the physics laboratory materials, Faculty of Sci-
ence and Technology (University of Djelfa (Algeria)),
this synthesis is described in detail in Section 2.3.
The product used is compared with tributyltin (TBT)
nonfluorinated synthesized in the laboratory of polymer
chemistry at the University of Oran Es-Senia (Algeria)
[10]. The product was vacuum distilled before use and
stored at 0˚C to avoid thermal polymerization. Azoiso-
butyronitrile (AIBN) and perfluorinated thiol were used
Figure 1. Telomerization of acrylic acid (R ≡ C8F17C2H4-)

Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for Antifouling Paints 272
as a free radical initiator and a chain transfer agent, res-
pectively. The solvents like tetrahydofuran (THF), ace-
tonitrile, pentane, diethyl ether (Merck) and analytical
products were used directly without further purification.
Water was deionized.
2.2. Measures
Proton NMR measurements were performed on a Brucker
WB 360 spectrometer (ref. Internal CDCl3). Chemical
shifts are expressed in 10–6.
The determination of critical micelle concentrations of
PSA product is given by the light scattering (LS) at a
fixed angle 90°. The optical constant of the device (under
the experimental conditions used here) is K = 0735.102.
The relative molecular weight and molecular weight
distributions were determined by the gel permeation
chromatography (GPC), the device with THF as eluent,
flow rate: 0.8 ml/min, volume of injection loop: 0.2 ml,
with two columns as support a mixed gel porosity and
particle size of 10 μ and differential refractometer (Brice-
Phoenix) as concentration detector (λ = 632 nm).
Thermogram of Differential Scanning Calorimetry
(DSC) was taken on an appliance model Mettler TA
4000 at a heating rate of 10˚C/min. Temperature (Tg)
was taken at the beginning of the jump corresponding to
the heat capacity
2.3. Telomerization of Acrylic Acid
A mixture of 7.2 g (0.1 mol) of acrylic acid, 36 g (0.075
mol) of perfluorinated thiol is added dropwise to 0.164 g
(10–3 mol) of AIBN in 100 ml of THF. The mixture was
left stirring under nitrogen bubbling at THF reflux for
four hours at 80˚C. After concentration, the reaction
mixture was precipitated in acetonitrile to remove the
thiol and the remaining monomer. The product obtained
was dried under vacuum. 1H NMR (D2O): δ (ppm): 2.6;
2.75 (m, 4H, CH2SCH2); 2.8; 2.9 (t, 2H, CH2COO); 3.3;
3.4 (s, C8F17CH2).
2.4 Determination of Critical Micelle
Concentration
Fundamental solutions are obtained by dissolving the
product in 50 ml of distilled THF solvant. The solutions
were then diluted volumetrically generally reports 3/4,
1/2 and 1/4, different solutions were clarified by cen-
trifugation at 18000 rev/min for 4 hours.
The concentration range studied, respectively: 0.36 ×
10–4 and 2.04 × 10–4 g/ml.
2.5 Preparation of Painting and the Panels
The panels used are of rectangular shapes (7.5 cm × 6.5
cm) aluminum, 3 mm thick; test paints were applied di-
rectly using a flat brush on the surface of the panel with
the previously scraped sandpaper, cleaned and washed
with methanol. Each panel is painted on both sides by
double layers, leaving at least 24 hours between the two
applications.
After a drying time (up to one week), the panels are
arranged and fixed on a metal support. The painted pan-
els are called as a witness P1, P2 perfluorinated acrylic
surfactant (PAS), and P3 (TBT).
The painting of the PSA is prepared by dissolving the
resin (35 parts) in methoxy-propanol-2 (65 parts). The
formulations are prepared in a laboratory dissolver.
2.6. Exposure to the Marine Environment
All panels are put to tests to evaluate its biocidal proper-
ties. For this, the panels were painted immersed to a
depth of 4 m in the port of Oran, near the wharf customs
dock in the sports complex (Rowing), during twenty-four
months corresponding to four cold and warm seasons.
Oran is the second economic city located west of Al-
geria. The salinity and temperature of the location are in
Table 1.
Panels are photographed and study of the behavior of
marine fouling deposit is made (the date of immersion is
March 2009).
Photos were taken by a camera Samsung Lens 3X
zoom 6.2 - 18.6 mm 2.8 - 5.2. 10.2 Mega Pixels Intelli-
gent LCD.
3. Results and Discuss
3.1. Synthesis of Perfluorinated Acrylic
Surfactant (PAS)
The preparation of acrylic polymers of low molecular
mass [11] is of major importance. The products obtained
are soluble in water and found many applications.
The presence of fluorescent atoms along the chain de-
termines the degree of polymerization of the surfactant.
3.2. Gel Permeation Chromatography of PAS
The curve of Figure 2 shows the evolution of the signal
intensity as a function of elution volume of surfactant
(PAS).
It is observed that the maximum intensity of the peak
in the chromatogram appears to 36.06 ml, the peak is
narrow and symmetric product of typical well-defined
Table 1. Changes in physicochemical parameters of the
natural sea water at the port of Oran in 2010.
Temperature pH Salinity
(‰)
Conductivity
(mS/cm)
10 - 23 8.4 - 8.8 34 - 36 39 - 45

Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for Antifouling Paints 273
Figure 2. Gel permeation chromatography of perfluorina-
ted acrylic surfactant (PAS).
and iso-molecular. The polydispersity Mw/Mn was 1.24,
see the Table 2, this chromatogram confirms the hom-
ogeneity of the product (Figure 2).
3.3. Critical Micelle Concentrations (CMC)
The value of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of
perfluorinated acrylic surfactant (PAS) in the solutions
was examined by the technique of light scattering (LS).
The light scattering is sensitive to dust, for this reason
we work in harsh conditions.
The general equation for the scattering of light in the
case of small molecules (or micelles of small size: less
than 12 nm) can be written [12,13]:
2
2
d
1
d2
n
Kc
c
A
I
M



 

Or is the optical constant of the device (in the
experimental conditions used here, we have
K
K

= 0.735
× 102).
The intensity difference ΔI between the solution con-
centration (c) and the solvent.
The
d
d
n
c
of the surfactant is –0.0519. The negative value which is
obtained for this product is due to the presence of fluo-
rine atoms.
Fluorine significantly lowers the refractive index of
molecules, A2 the second virial coefficient related to
thermodynamic properties (A2 actually represents the
effect of concentration on the scattered intensity) [13].
Table 2. Characterization of perfluorinated acrylic surface-
tant (PAS)
Surfactant Vel (ml) Mn M
w/Mn
Surfactant PAS 36.60 3800 1.24
The results obtained (in a concentration range between
0.36 × 10–4 and 2.04 × 10–4 g/ml) are shown in Tables
3(a) and (b) and illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the
variations of the scattered intensity as a function of
concentration .
These results allow us to located the critical micelle
concentration (CMC) around to 1.545 × 10–4 g/ml. Below
this concentration, the slope of curve is relatively large,
is explained by the fact that there is not yet micelle
formation and because of the translational mobility, the
charges from molecules completely dissociated, are free
to move. Above the CMC, the slope is smaller than the
first and indicates the formation of micelles. Indeed, they
have distributed loads (ionized heads) on the micellar
surface, and are neutralized by counterions found in the
solution. All these factors contribute to the stability of
the micelle, which results in a decrease in the mobility of
monomers charged.
3.4. Glass Transition Temperature
The glass transition temperature was determined by DSC.
This method was used in the research laboratory of the
Thermophysics in Dunkerque (France). And once vali-
dated, this type of analysis could be used for substrates
already applied paint finishes. The results obtained by
this method are presented in Figure 4.
As a result, one must conclude that there is a critical
number of carbon atoms (carbon atoms bond to fluores-
cence atoms) where the growing reach does not affect the
value of the temperature. This could be parsed by the fact
that there is no steric effect or significant obstacle in the
acrylic matrix between carbons, while that given by the
well-TBT alters the thermal properties of the resin [14].
Many studies have been made by DSC to determine the
phase diagrams of mixtures and polymer systems [15,16],
the thermal properties were carried out in a temperature
range from 0˚C to 200˚C (Figure 4).
In this curve, three characteristic temperatures were
detected.
The emulsion of perfluorinated acrylic surfactant (PAS)
showed some weight loss of 2%, which are due to the
solvent. The box in Figure 5 shows a change endother-
mic around 50˚C, which corresponds to the glass transi-
tion temperature Tg, then the product is stable up to 60˚C.
Chemical decomposition will start after this temperature

Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for Antifouling Paints 274
Table 3. (a) Critical micelle concentration (CMC) of per-
fluorinated acrylic surfactant (PAS); (b) Measurements of
light scattering of perfluorinated acrylic surfactant (PAS),
after the CMC.
(a)
c.10–4 g/ml I (u,a) △ I (u,a) (c/I) 10–4
0 Io = 28.85 - -
0.495 32.69 3.0 1.20
0.863 35.58 5.5 1.20
1.182 37.50 8.0 1.18
1.41 39.42 8.0 1.22
C. M. C. = 1.545 40.38 - -
(b)
c.10–4g/ml I(u,a)
1.772 46.16
2.04 52.88
Figure 3. Light scattering of perfluorinated acrylic surfac-
tant (PAS).
Figure 4. The DSC curve and the value of the glass transi-
tion temperature of perfluorinated acrylic surfactant (PAS).
P1
P2
P3
Figure 5. After seven months of immersion, p1 control
panel, p2 PAS and p3 TBT.

Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for Antifouling Paints 275
and maximum decomposition is around 84˚C represented
in the Figure 4 by a strong endothermic peak (Tm).
From these data, it is interesting to note that the sur-
factant is thermoplastic and its temperature Tm remains
unchanged even after a second heating.
Experiments are limited to a temperature of 200˚C to
avoid the evaporation of the product.
3.5. Application to the Marine Environment
Perfluorinated surfactants are very effective agents, anti-
fouling properties are monitored for exposure to the ma-
rine environment, the images corresponding to the sev-
enth month (September 2009) of immersion are pre-
sented in Figure 5.
There no attack and no fixing of fouling. All panels
have excellent protection against the development of
organisms, except a slight difference in the panel P2,
which corresponds to the acrylic resin there was spots on
its surface.
On the other hand, there are several inhomogeneous
spots on the panel P3 (TBT). The witness panel P1 is just
slightly swollen, no real attack.
After twelve months (Figure 6), the panel P1 is
attacked by marine organisms, a green layer appeared all
along the surface; there is a higher swelling of the left
side of the panel P3 (TBT). This phenomenon seems to
be the first part of the erosion, which propagates the
inside of the panel.
These results were confirmed after twenty months of
immersion (see Figure 7). For the panel P2, the paint is
still present. However this behavior seems to be mainly
controlled by hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance of the
surfactant.
In this period, first we announce that the witness panel
P1, is completely covered by fouling, as green algae and
barnacles. These organizations are well attached marine.
On the contrary, the panels P2 and P3 have a swelling in
the surrounding, which propagates progressively towards
the inner panel. These paintings show an effective
biocide. Note that the rate of swelling of P2 is less than
P3 (TBT).
Regarding the development of green algae, and com-
paring the images c and b of Figure 7, we see that the
second (P2), has a potential biocidal important. This re-
sult is in good agreement with literature [9].
The panel P2 has a biocidal effect of long-term than
the P3 and more the perfluorinated surfactant has not
effect as TBT toxicity [14].
In other words, the nature of the atoms that are exter-
nal (–CF3) is independent of the nature and the arrange-
ment of atoms which are located inside the chain (back-
bone chain), this gives mechanical stability and surface
properties specific to the surfactant (wettability of the
surfaces) [17-19].
P1
P2
P3
Figure 6. After 12 months P1) control panel, P2) PAS and
P3) TBT.

Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for Antifouling Paints 276
P1
P2
P3
Figure 7. After 20 months P1) control panel, P2) PAS and
P3) TBT.
Therefore, the perfluorinated compound (PAS) has a
strength that allows him to stay on the surface, it is per-
pendicular to the matrix [20,21].
4. Conclusions
The need to file biocide performance is always larger in
the field of paint, this paved the way in recent years, a
fruitful research both fundamental and applied. The de-
sired properties are primarily to improve the effective-
ness, duration of action, and decreased toxicity and re-
duced usage price. The solution adopted is to temporarily
fix a biocidal agent, chosen for its extensive range of
activity based on the protection needed.
Our research efforts have focused primarily on the
preparation of biocide molecule (surfactant PAS) and see
its behavior as antifouling paint.
The results obtained are:
1) From the study by the gel permeation chromatog-
raphy (GPC), we can say that the chromatogram led to
noticeable results that are qualitatively consistent. In ad-
dition, for this surfactant, the mass ratio gave 1.24. Fur-
thermore, the results of the Tables 3(a) and (b), allow us
to see that the perfluorinated surfactant PAS present in
dilute media (before the CMC), a significant degree of
association (Mn = 3800), then a critical micelle concen-
tration (CMC) of 1.545 × 10–4g/ml, and beyond the CMC,
the surfactant PAS has a large mass, we are in the pres-
ence of large micelles repellency.
2) The plot of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
gives excellent results, which makes this method a reli-
able tool in the study of glass transition temperature of
organic coating systems. From these data, it is interesting
to note that the acrylic surfactant resulting is thermoplas-
tic and temperatures Tg and Tm remains unchanged even
after a second heating.
3) The processing of panels, gives us the most obvious
difference when their protective capacity of corrosion.
The perfluorinated product showed better protection than
non-fluorinated (TBT). The presence on a fluorine of
quantity of 2% - 10% showed significantly improved the
protective properties.
4) In this study, the amount of agent used PAS (5% -
10%) was much less than that used in conventional paints,
which is 20% - 30% of the total. Thus the mechanical
properties of surfactant PAS can be further improved.
These fluorinated products can be used as coat, which
may limit moisture from reaching the outside and inside
the metal and generally give a longer life to the paintings.
In this study, we used a simple product non-hazardous
with fluorine atoms as a main chain. The panels are in
the water until now.
5. Acknowledgements
The author thanks, Professor Hadj Abdelhafid Sahraoui

Preparation of Perfluorinated Surfactant Activates for Antifouling Paints 277
and his team of Thermophysical of the condensed mat-
ter-Maison de la Recherche Environnement Industriel-
Dunkerque (University, Lille III).
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