Mixed fluoroalkyl-alkyl surfactants

1. A method of lowering surface tension of a medium comprising contacting the medium with a surfactant of Formula 1

(R f -A) a -Q-([B] k —R) b   Formula 1

wherein

a and b are each independently 1 or 2;

R f is a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl radical having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally interrupted with at least one oxygen;

R is a C 1 to C 20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, or a C 6 to C 10 aryl;

B is —(CH 2 CHR 1 O) X —,

k is 0 or 1, x is 1 to 20,

A is —(CH 2 ) m [(CHR 1 CH 2 O)] S —[(CH 2 ) m (CH) t CHOH(CH 2 ) m ] e —,

wherein

each m is independently 0 to 3, s is 0 to 30, t is 0 or 1, and e is 0 or 1,

R 1 is H or CH 3 ,

Q is: —OP(O)(O − M + )(O)—,

—O—,

—S—(CH 2 ) m —C(O)—O—,

—SO 2 —O—

—CH 2 CH 2 O—C(O)CH 2 C(OH)(V)CH 2 C(O)O—;

—(CH 2 CH 2 O) X CH 2 CH(OH)—CH 2 O—(CH 2 CH 2 O) X —(CH 2 ) m —Si[OSi(R 2 ) 3 ] 2 —,

—SO 2 NR 2 —,

—(CH 2 CH 2 O) Z C(O)CH(SO 3 − M + )CH 2 C(O)(OCH 2 CH 2 ) Z — wherein z is 1 to 15, or

a bond when s is a positive integer,

V is —C(O)OR 3 and R 3 is H, CH 3 or R f ,

R 2 is C 1 to C 4 alkyl, and

M + is a Group 1 metal or an ammonium (NH X R 2 y ) + cation wherein x and y are each independently 0 to 4, and x+y=4, and R 2 is C 1 to C 4 alkyl,

provided that when Q is —OP(O)(O − M + )(O)— or when Q is —(CH 2 CH 2 O) Z —C(O)CH(SO 3 − M + )CH 2 C(O)(OCH 2 CH 2 ) Z —, then at least one of s or e is a positive integer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the medium is a coating composition, latex, polymer, floor finish, ink, emulsifying agent, foaming agent, release agent, repellency agent, flow modifier, film evaporation inhibitor, wetting agent, penetrating agent, cleaner, grinding agent, electroplating agent, corrosion inhibitor, etchant solution, soldering agent, dispersion aid, microbial agent, pulping aid, rinsing aid, polishing agent, personal care composition, drying agent, antistatic agent, floor polish, or bonding agent.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the medium is a floor polish.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lowering of surface tension enhances wetting and leveling of the medium on a floor.

5. A method of providing resistance to blocking to a coated substrate comprising adding to a coating base prior to deposition on the substrate a compound of Formula 1

(R f -A) a -Q-([B] k —R) b   Formula 1

wherein

a and b are each independently 1 or 2;

R f is a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl radical having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally interrupted with at least one oxygen;

R is a C 1 to C 20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, or a C 6 to C 10 aryl;

B is —(CH 2 CHR 1 O) X —,

k is 0 or 1, x is 1 to 20,

A is —(CH 2 ) m [(CHR 1 CH 2 O)] S —(CH 2 ) m (CH) t CHOH(CH 2 ) m ] e —,

wherein

each m is independently 0 to 3, s is 0 to 30, t is 0 or 1, and e is 0 or 1,

R 1 is H or CH 3 ,

Q is: —OP(O)(O − M + )(O)—,

—O—,

—S—(CH 2 ) m —C(O)—O—,

—SO 2 —O—

—CH 2 CH 2 O—C(O)CH 2 C(OH)(V)CH 2 C(O)O—;

—(CH 2 CH 2 O) X CH 2 CH(OH)—CH 2 O—(CH 2 CH 2 O) X —(CH 2 ) m Si[OSi(R 2 ) 3 ] 2 —,

—SO 2 NR 2 —,

—(CH 2 CH 2 O) Z C(O)CH(SO 3 − M + )CH 2 C(O)(OCH 2 CH 2 ) Z — wherein z is 1 to 15, or

a bond when s is a positive integer,

V is —C(O)OR 3 and R 3 is H, CH 3 or R f ,

R 2 is C 1 to C 4 alkyl, and

M is a Group 1 metal or an ammonium (NH X R 2 y ) + cation wherein x and y are each independently 0 to 4, and x+y=4, and R 2 is C 1 to C 4 alkyl,

provided that when Q is —OP(O)(O − M + )(O)— or when Q is —(CH 2 CH 2 O) Z —C(O)CH(SO 3 − M + )CH 2 C(O)(OCH 2 CH 2 ) Z —, then at least one of s or e is a positive integer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the coating base is a water dispersed coating, alkyd coating, Type I urethane coating, unsaturated polyester coating, or a floor polish.