A degradable fluorinated surfactant for emulsion polymerization of vinylidene fluoride.

An original degradable fluorinated surfactant, 3-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)propanoic acid (MAF-OH), was applied for the emulsion polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) to yield a latex of PVDF, consisting of typically 100 nm particle diameters. This surfactant was shown to be easily decomposed in subcritical water, releasing fluoride anions. The % reversed head-to head (H-H) addition is greatly minimized (2.4%) in the PVDF, prepared in the presence of MAF-OH surfactant.