FY2019-000340-AS: Surface Active Polymers for Enhancement in Biofouling Control and Viable Non-toxic Marine Coatings
Abstract
Marine biofouling presents significant economic and environmental cost to the industry and theUnited States Navy. Advancing an environmentally benign marine coating is a crucial need inorder to address the growing environmental impacts and regulatory restrictions. Additionally, such coating also needs to deliver economic benefit to the vessel owner. Current anti-fouling (AF), and fouling release (FR) coatings have not provided either positive environmental benefits and or satisfactory biofouling control performance across a broad range of vessel activity profiles. AST has been developing benign marine coatings that demonstrate biofouling control better than commercial products. The coatings feature a thin surface active layer created by the surface partitioning character of Active Performance Ingredients (API) which contain at least one lubricant and at least one surface active polymer (SAP). The proposed project will explore the relationship between surface features (i.e. domains, hydration layers) observed on coatings with polyalkylene oxide coupled zwitterionic (POA-ZW) moieties and the response by marine organisms.During the project, we will prepare API systems using our polymer synthesis capabilities. TheAPIs will be incorporated in to standard silicone binder and allowed to dry. Proposed coatings may show amphiphilic surface domains, which will be analyzed using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) before and after submersion. The surface patterns are then compared against the biological assays to observe bacteria and diatom surface exploration/settlement behavior. Chemical identity of the surface features will be determined using confocal Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. Surface active layer will be visualized through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imaging and XPS depth profiling. Potential surface hydration effects will be explored using the Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) vibrations spectroscopy. The results from the project will enable us to elucidate the working mechanism and the role of APIs in providing biofouling control. Provided the option, we will extend the study to evaluate the same for a down selected pigmented formulation under relevant conditions experienced by commercial coating.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 29, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012245
Entities
People
- Teluka Galhenage
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy