Dynamic migration mechanism of borneol synergistic polyethylene glycol for the construction of silicon-acrylate antifouling coating

Abstract

Silicone-based coatings are vulnerable to marine fouling organisms in static environments, which seriously hampers its practical application. Here, an amphiphilic acrylate polymer is designed by hydrophilic polyethylene glycol and antibacterial borneol, which is introduced into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by covalent linking to prepare antifouling coatings. XPS and CA tests prove that amphiphilic acrylate polymer can migrate to coating surface in the marine environment to maximize antifouling properties. Mytilus edulis foot protein adhesion test find it can weaken interface force between Mefp-3 and surface. Laboratory antifouling performance evaluations confirm that the coatings are effective against the adhesion of bacteria (86.72 % reduction for E. coli), diatoms (87.76 % reduction for Nitzschia closterium). The good antifouling properties of coatings are ascribed to the synergistic effect among unique bicyclic monoterpene structure of natural non-toxic borneol and amphiphilic acrylate polymer on surface of coatings. Moreover, the coating is less harmful to the marine ecological balance than traditional coatings containing toxic biocides due to the introduction of natural non-toxic borneol. This work contributes new insights in the exploration of environmentally friendly coating with excellent static antifouling performance.