Chapter 8 - Superhydrophobic foul resistant and self-cleaning polymer coating

Abstract

Since the prohibition of using organo-tin compounds in marine antifouling paints in 2003, global interest was directed toward ecofriendly alternatives, particularly silicone-based fouling-release coatings. This technology hinders fouling settling because of an extreme antiadhesion and self-cleaning mechanism. Natural superhydrophobic surfaces are being researched to develop novel self-cleaning nanostructured coating materials given their promising fouling-release characteristics. Superhydrophobic fouling-release surfaces with minimum surface free energy are promising candidates for the shipping industry. Many feasible superhydrophobic self-cleaning nanocomposite coatings rather than biocidal solutions have been developed to counter biofouling. Various inorganic nanofillers are dispersed in the polymeric material and applied to increase superhydrophobicity and fouling, thereby providing a chemically inert surface that prevents the fouling of organisms. This chapter describes the behavior of superhydrophobic self-cleaning coatings and the effects of their surface free energy and roughness on fouling antiadhesion performance. Recent advancements in superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings for the fouling resistance of marine ship hulls are discussed. Subtle structural changes in the reported fouling-release nanocomposite coatings provide outstanding self-cleaning surfaces. The chapter ends with an account of current and future developments, such as superhydrophobic graphene-based nanocoatings and ternary nanocomposite surfaces.