Active Disruption of Marine Cement-Coating Interface Interactions to Prevent Fouling.
Abstract
We propose to design polymer coatings with tailored sequence-controlled chemical functionalities for non-toxic surfaces that are soft- and hard-fouler resistant and have fouling release properties. We hypothesize that in addition to their amphiphilic character, good antifouling properties come from the incorporation of adhesion disruptors. Our prior results indicate that, for example, in the case of barnacles and other hard foulers addition of antioxidants interfere with the chemistry of barnacle attachment by forming weak adhesive-coating interfaces. In addition, some foulers create pH excursions during settlement and we hypothesize that pH buffers could inhibit the fouling behavior in such species. We will therefore produce coatings with sequence-controlled chemical functionalities that include adhesive disruptors in addition to amphiphilic segments. In addition, while we have developed chemistries with success at lab scale assays, we will begin to translate these into large scale samples suitable for marine testing.Our goals therefore are to:~ Synthesize amphiphilic block copolymers as anti-fouling/fouling resistant coatings~ Explore and understand a broad range of active adhesion disruptors including the stableradical TEMPO~ Incorporate adhesion disruptors into sequence defined peptoids and optimize their positionon the polypeptoid chain to ensure strong surface activity~ Provide coated samples on 4~x8~ glass plaques for large scale testing of our most favorable coatings, by developing new, effective methods for substrate coating production~ Develop new surface characterization tools to directly monitor surface properties in a wetenvironment (AP-XPS, super-resolution microscopy)~ Carry out laboratory scale assays including in-situ colorimetric experiments for radicaldetection and pH evaluation to relate surface coating changes with fouling resistance andfouling release behavior (U. linza, N. incerta, barnacle settlement and pushoff)We will therefore create Surface Active Block Copolymer (SABC) coatings functionalized withsequence controlled and modular means of introducing multiple surface-active chemicalfunctionalities. Specifically, sequence-controlled polypeptoids will be grafted to a siloxane-basedand PEO/AGE-based triblock copolymer scaffold for optimal fouling release. Our goal is toultimately develop a multi-purpose platform active against both hard and soft foulers and to dothis we will reproduce our sequence-controlled segments in radical polymers introduced into thecoating. To produce large scale coatings, we will explore three methods including attachment ofsequence-controlled segments before coating, after coating or grown from a coating surface.Additionally, we will investigate a unique combination of methods for hydrated surfacecharacterization including environmental XPS (available at the Advanced Light Source). We alsoplan to develop super-resolution microscopy and colorimetric methods of determining stableradical and pH concentrations in the coating-adhesive region. Furthermore, we will gain insightinto the behavior of our surfaces in the marine environment through collaborations with ONRinvestigators including T. Clare and J. Finlay (soft and hard fouler settlement and release) and G.Swain at FIT (large plaque studies). These measurements are important not only for understanding the antifouling behavior but also for testing the efficacy of our wet surface characterization techniques. In addition, this proposal represents a close collaboration between the Ober and Segalman groups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012152
Entities
People
- Rachel A. Segalman
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Santa Barbara