Abstract
Abstract It is well known that during the first minutes of the immersion of any substrate in marine environments microbial colonization takes place. This event will condition the attachment of other more complex organisms and the substrate biodeterioration with concomitant loss of its functionality. The aim of this work was to assess antifouling coatings performance at early stages of immersion, in natural and artificial sea water, observing the surface condition, by scanning electron microscope (SEM), in order to predict possible results in long time immersion tests. The use of short time tests to predict future behavior is useful to adjust formulations, reduce testing time and economics cost. In this research antifouling (AF) coatings formulated with two “quebracho” tannin derivatives were chosen to be evaluated by short and long time tests. One of this coatings possessed in a longer service life, until 10 months of exposure, and at the same time, this resulted correlated with surface analysis at early stages of immersion by SEM.
Highlights
Coatings deterioration is concerned with physicochemical gradual changes, in coatings properties during their service life which can cause the coating to lose its functionality
It has been postulated that the activity of AF coating depend of the erosion process, the surface hardness and the leaching of biocides [1,2]
The aim of this research was to assess the deterioration of AF coatings formulated with a “quebracho” tannin derivative, a natural biocide, when submerged in artificial and natural sea water (ASW and NSW, respectively) employing SEM and environmental scanning microscopy (ESEM)
Summary
Coatings deterioration is concerned with physicochemical gradual changes, in coatings properties during their service life which can cause the coating to lose its functionality. It has been postulated that the activity of AF coating depend of the erosion process, the surface hardness and the leaching of biocides [1,2]. For a more complete picture an AF coating performance, hydration, water diffusion within the film, the hydrolytic degradation of the matrix and the diffusion of biocides should be taken into account. In addition to these processes, the colonization of the substrate by different organisms present in the marine environment starts immediately after immersion and contribute to coating deterioration. The biofouling can be defined as the undesirable accumulation of micro and macroorganisms on hard substrates [3] and must be distinguished from other accumulations as corrosion products, salts,
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
