Abstract
In recent years, there has become a growing need for the development of antifouling technology for application in the marine environment. The accumulation of large quantities of biomass on these surfaces cause substantial economic burdens within the marine industry, or adversely impact the performance of sensor technologies. Here, we present a study of transparent coatings with potential for applications on sensors or devices with optical windows. The focus of the study is on the abundance and diversity of biofouling organisms that accumulate on glass panels coated with novel transparent or opaque organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) coatings. The diatom assessment was used to determine the effectiveness of the coatings against biofouling. Test panels were deployed in a marine environment in Galway Bay for durations of nine and thirteen months to examine differences in biofilm formation in both microfouling and macrofouling conditions. The most effective coating is one which consists of precursor, tetraethyl orthosilicate (HC006) that has a water contact angle > 100, without significant roughness (43.52 nm). However, improved roughness and wettability of a second coating, diethoxydimethylsilane (DMDEOS), showed real promise in relation to macrofouling reduction.
Highlights
Biofouling is often defined as the build-up of biologically derived organic matter on artificial surfaces immersed in an aquatic environment [1]
Water contact angles (WCAs) measured on the coatings ranged from 50◦ to 130◦, confirming the increasing wettability of the surfaces from hydrophobic to hydrophilic (Figure 2)
Surface roughness measurements using white light interferometry show that a wide range of surface topographies were obtained, with average surface roughness ranging from 43 nm (HC006) to 1600 nm (B Sol) (Figure 3)
Summary
Biofouling is often defined as the build-up of biologically derived organic matter on artificial surfaces immersed in an aquatic environment [1]. Hydrophilic surfaces in particular have been shown to exhibit excellent antifouling capabilities (well hydrated, neutral or weakly negative, protein repellant) [4], providing an optimum environment for cell adhesion, which improves the ability of cells to grow and proliferate [5]. After this attachment step, cell proliferation leads to the formation of a micro-colony, and cellular chemical signaling activates biofilm genes which enhance the ability of micro-colonies to form and adhere to solid interfaces. Mature biofilms can detach from the solid interfaces to facilitate the multiplication and dispersal of cells and biofilm microcolonies [5]
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