Method of preventing corrosion and fouling by marine growth

Abstract

On May 28, 1974, a United States Patent Application, Serial No. 473,691, was filed on a new process for preventing corrosion in steel substrates subjected to marine environments, and for preventing bio‐fouling so common in those situations. The patent application also applies to other substrates which have only the bio‐fouling problem but may not be subject to corrosion, such as fibreglass, plastics, etc. In December, 1976, this patent was issued with essentially all claims requested, with the exception of the application to ship's hulls. During the prosecution of the case in the US Patent Office, several wording changes were required by the examiner in an attempt to limit the claims of the patent and, as a result, a continuation‐in‐part is being filed to further expand the use to other than just “marine” environments, which is defined as applying only to salt water environments. The continuation‐in‐part will also cover the applications to boilers for prevention of scale corrosion, fresh water applications, and the applications specifically directed to heat exchanges and underwater drilling apparatus. As more applications are discovered with experience, further patent applications are to be filed.