Aqueous compositions of fluorinated surfactants and methods of using the same

An article having a surface, wherein at least a portion of the surface is in contact with a composition comprising a non-fluorinated polymer and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of:

• [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+;
• {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—COO−}iXi+;
• {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—SO3−}iXi+;
• and
• [CF3CFH—O—(CF2)p—COO−]iXi+;
• wherein
• Rf represents a partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group optionally interrupted with at least one oxygen atom;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of F and CF3;
• R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and arylene;
• Xi+ represents a cation having a valence i, wherein i is 1, 2 or 3;
• t is 0 or 1, wherein when the surfactant is represented by formula [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+ and t is 0, then Rf is interrupted with at least one oxygen atom;
• m is 1, 2, or 3;
• n is 0 or 1;
• and
• p is an integer from 1 to 6;
• and
• wherein the composition is essentially free of fluoropolymers.

A method of reducing the surface tension of a liquid having a pH greater than 11, the method comprising combining the liquid with a surfactant to reduce the surface tension of the liquid, wherein the surfactant is represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of:

• [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+;
• {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—COO−}iXi+;
• {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—SO3−}iXi+;
• and
• [CF3CFH—O—(CF2)p—COO−]iXi+;
• wherein
• Rf represents a partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group optionally interrupted with at least one oxygen atom;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of F and CF3;
• R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and arylene;
• Xi+ represents a cation having a valence i, wherein i is 1, 2 or 3;
• t is 0 or 1, wherein when the surfactant is represented by formula [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+ and t is 0, then Rf is interrupted with at least one oxygen atom;
• m is 1, 2, or 3;
• n is 0 or 1;
• and
• p is an integer from 1 to 6.

An aqueous composition comprising a surfactant represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of:

• [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+;
• {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—COO−}iXi+;
• {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—SO3−}iXi+;
• and
• [CF3CFH—O—(CF2)p—COO−]iXi+;
• wherein
• Rf represents a partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group optionally interrupted with at least one oxygen atom;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of F and CF3;
• R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and arylene;
• Xi+ represents a cation having a valence i, wherein i is 1, 2 or 3;
• t is 0 or 1, wherein when the surfactant is represented by formula [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+ and t is 0, then Rf is interrupted with at least one oxygen atom;
• m is 1, 2, or 3;
• n is 0 or 1;
• and
• p is an integer from 1 to 6;
• wherein the aqueous composition has a pH greater than 11, or wherein the aqueous composition has a pH of at least 8 and is essentially free of fluoropolymers and fluorinated olefins.