Low Fouling Polysulfobetaines with Variable Hydrophobic Content
Abstract
Amphiphilic polymer coatings combining hydrophilic elements, in particular zwitterionic groups, and hydrophobic elements comprise a promising strategy to decrease biofouling. However, the influence of the content of the hydrophobic component in zwitterionic coatings on the interfacial molecular reorganization dynamics and the anti‐fouling performance is not well understood. Therefore, coatings of amphiphilic copolymers of sulfobetaine methacrylate 3‐[N‐2'‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl‐N,N‐dimethyl]‐ammonio propane‐1‐sulfonate (SPE) are prepared which contain increasing amounts of hydrophobic n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA). Their fouling resistance is compared to that of their homopolymers PSPE and PBMA. The photo‐crosslinked coatings form hydrogel films with a hydrophilic surface. Fouling by the proteins fibrinogen and lysozyme as well as by the diatom Navicula perminuta and the green algae Ulva linza is assessed in laboratory assays. While biofouling is strongly reduced by all zwitterionic coatings, the best fouling resistance is obtained for the amphiphilic copolymers. Also in preliminary field tests, the anti‐fouling performance of the amphiphilic copolymer films is superior to that of both homopolymers. When the coatings are exposed to a marine environment, the reduced susceptibility to silt incorporation, in particular compared to the most hydrophilic polyzwitterion PSPE, likely contributes to the improved fouling resistance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 20, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1002/marc.202100589
Entities
People
- Alejandro Martínez Guajardo
- André Laschewsky
- Anthony S Clare
- Axel Rosenhahn
- Geoffrey W Swain
- Harrison Gardner
- Jessica L. Clarke
- John A. Finlay
- Julian Koc
- Kelli Z Hunsucker
- Lisa Schardt
Organizations
- Florida Institute of Technology
- German Research Foundation
- Newcastle University
- Office of Naval Research
- Ruhr University Bochum
- University of Potsdam