Non-Leaching, Benign, Fouling Control, Multilayer Polymer Coatings for Marine Applications: PP-1274 Findings
Abstract
The goal of this research is to produce environmentally friendly coatings that protect the hulls of ships below the waterline against fouling by seaweed, barnacles, and other organisms. Fouling by these organisms produces additional drag on the ship, increasing the operating and maintenance costs. Currently, antifouling paints containing tin and copper biocides are used because of their effectiveness against most forms of fouling. However, these biocidal organometallic compounds that are environmentally persistent cause damage to the ecosystem, and enter the food chain. The ban on tributyltin (TBT) antifoulants by the International Maritime Organization will be effective in 2008, and copper-based coatings are expected to face similar restrictions in the near future. Non-toxic "fouling-release" or "fouling-repellant" coatings are the desirable alternatives to coatings that are biocidal. Silicone-based paints that belong to the former category are commercially available, but do not satisfy many of the desired performance characteristics. The soft silicones do not withstand the rigorous demands of the marine environment, do not sufficiently and consistently self-clean, or, due to polymer restructuring or other degradation pathways, lose many of the desirable surface properties with time and exposure to marine organisms. This report describes the synthesis and testing of block copolymers that contain semifluorinated (SF) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side groups, and show promise as non-toxic, antifouling substitutes to copper-containing paints. These surface-active groups modify the coating-water interfacial energy, conferring fouling- release or fouling-repellant properties to the surface.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA484133
Entities
People
- Christopher Ober
Organizations
- Cornell University