Barnacles and Expertise for Antifouling, Foul Release and Adhesion Research

Abstract

Barnacles are globally important conspicuous and important members of all fouling communities. Effective management of barnacle fouling is important to combat readiness and peacetime economic and environmental impacts of the fleet. The barnacle animal model is used in basic materials science studies, as test organisms for research in novel approaches to fouling management, as an assessment tool in fouling management coatings development and in developing biofouling cleaning procedures. My objective is to provide expertise related to the barnacle model and in general about marine biofouling to materials science and other Navy and Navy supported academic researchers to enable testing, assessment and data driven development of novel technologies. I supply all life stages of barnacles to researchers and develop techniques relevant to Navy needs. This includes testing of novel materials and developing an assessment tool that enables technology transfer. I enable detailed studies of the interactions of barnacle glue with novel materials, design procedures to study adhesion processes with living barnacles, tests with optics for microscopy and analytical chemistry. To meet specific objectives, I develop new methods for studying glue curing, adhesion and corrosion that enable empirical testing of hypotheses and challenging traditional as well as novel materials with biological glues and with biofouling. Deliverables range from pure basic research to enabling product development.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
May 23, 2019
Source ID
N000141912197

Entities

People

  • Daniel Rittschof

Organizations

  • Duke University
  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Surface Coatings Technology.
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.