Special issue on advanced corrosion-resistance materials and emerging applications. The progress on antifouling organic coating: From biocide to biomimetic surface

Abstract

The advancement in material science and engineering technology has led to the development of antifouling (AF) coatings which are cheaper, durable, less toxic, and safe to the environment. The use of AF coatings containing tributyltin compounds was prohibited at the beginning of 2003, this necessitated the development of environmentally friendly coatings. The fouling release coating (FRC) lacks biocides and has low surface energy, low elastic modulus with smooth surface properties, hence a better release effect to fouling organisms. Several functional coatings have been recently developed based on fouling release (FR) technology to combat the effects of biofouling. Here, we provide a brief overview of innovative technologies and recent developments based on FRCs, including silicone, modified fluorinated polymer, cross-linked coatings, amphiphilic copolymer coating, hydrogel coatings, and biomimetic coatings. We also highlight the key issues and shortcomings of innovative technologies based on FRCs. This may give new insights into the future development of marine AF coatings.