Fluorinated Polyacrylic Resins for the Protection of Cultural Heritages: The Effect of Fluorine on Hydrophobic Properties and Photochemical Stability

Two new water-repellent methyl methacrylate-based resins were synthesized changing the fluorinated pendant chain length of the co-monomers adopted, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl acrylate and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl methacrylate. The macromolecular and hydrophobic properties of the resultant polymers were investigated and their photochemical stability was estimated via an accelerated UV aging test. This work demonstrates that a polymeric protective prepared from a co-monomer bearing a short fluorinated pendant chain is characterized by more satisfactory hydrophobic and durability features than those of long fluorinated pendant chain-based polymers.