Fluorine-containing polyester (FPE) was synthesized by the reaction of phthalic anhydride, epichlorohydrin, and 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl glycidyl ether (TFGE) at the catalysis of tetraethylammonium bromide using 1,4-butanediol as the initiator. The structure of FPE was characterized by 1H NMR and 19F NMR, and the result showed that the fluorine in TFGE was introduced into FPE. Fluorine content in FPE was determined by oxygen-flask combustion and fluoride selective electrode. It was found that fluorine content in FPEs increased with the increase of TFGE content. The wettability of water and oil on the cured coating based on FPE was investigated by contact angle meter. Contact angles of water and diiodomethane on the cured coatings first increased with the increase of the fluorine content in FPEs and then remained constant. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis showed that the F/C molar ratio on the coatings surface was much higher than the overall F/C molar ratio, which indicated that fluoroalkyl groups in FPEs had enriched on the coatings surface. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012