Fluorine-containing water-soluble nonionic surface-active compounds, use thereof and process for preparation of the compounds

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluoroalkyl-group-containing compound that has high water solubility and is highly capable of reducing the surface tension of an aqueous composition. Specifically, the invention relates to a compound represented by formula (1): W—CnF2n—X—(CH2CH2O)a—Y  (1) wherein n is an integer from 2 to 6; W is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; X is -M-O— (wherein R is a lower alkyl a group; and M is an alkylene group optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group), etc.; a is an integer from 10 to 50; and Y is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 4 to 19 carbon atoms, -M′-CmF2m—W (wherein m is an integer from 2 to 6; W′ is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; and M′ is an alkylene group optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group), etc.; the ratio of the molecular weight (MWEO) of the polyoxyethylene group (the moiety (CH2CH2O)a) to the molecular weight (MWF) of the fluoroalkyl groups (the moieties W—CnF2n and CmF2m—W′) being within the range expressed by the equation: MWEO/MWF=2.2 to 10; and the compound having a Griffin's HLB value of 10 to 16; etc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.