Grafting modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) via Cu(0) mediated controlled radical polymerization

In the present work, diverse vinyl monomers were successfully grafted onto poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) P(VDF-HFP) via direct activation of C–F bonds using Cu(0)/4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl (DMDP) as catalyst under mild conditions. The structure of the graft copolymer was carefully characterized, and the initiating site was confirmed at the same time. Moreover, the kinetic results indicated the controlled behavior of the graft polymerization, and the composition of the graft copolymer can be regulated by changing the reaction conditions. This work may provide a facile strategy to endow P(VDF-HFP) copolymer with new functions via directly activating C–F bonds.