Phynox improved corrosion resistance with MPC initiated from mixed monolayers of phosphonic acids

This work investigated the grafting of 11-(2-bromoisobutyrate)-undecyl-1-phosphonic acid (BUPA) and 1-dodecylphosphonic acid (C₁₂PA) to form (mixed) monolayers with different proportions of BUPA and C₁₂PA on Phynox. The role and impact of these grafted molecules have been evaluated in terms of the corrosion resistance and the feasibility to act as a suitable platform for surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl phosphate (MPC). It appeared that both molecules play an important role: BUPA to initiate the ATRP polymerization of MPC and C₁₂PA to increase the resistance to corrosion of Phynox substrates. Moreover, the presence of C₁₂PA in the mixed monolayer beneath the poly-2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl phosphate (PMPC) layer has a beneficial impact in terms of corrosion resistance.