The Antifouling and Drag-Reduction Performance of Alumina Reinforced Polydimethylsiloxane Coatings Containing Phenylmethylsilicone Oil.

Qiang Yang,Yuhong Qi,Zhanping Zhang,Hongyang Zhang

doi:10.3390/polym13183067

Abstract

Fouling-release coatings reinforced with micro-alumina and nano-alumina were prepared based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) containing phenylmethylsilicone oil. The surface properties, mechanical properties, leaching behavior of silicone oil, anti-fouling and drag-reduction performance of the coating were studied. The results show that the addition of alumina can significantly improve the tensile strength, elastic modulus and Shore’s hardness of the coating. The adhesion experiments of marine bacteria and Navicula Tenera show that the addition of alumina can reduce the antifouling performance of the coating, which is related to the stripping mode of fouling organisms. The fouling organisms leave the coating surface by shearing, and the energy required for shearing is proportional to the elastic modulus of the coating. At 800–1400 rpm, the addition of alumina will reduce the drag reduction performance of the coating, which is related to the drag reduction mechanism of PDMS. PDMS counteracts part of the resistance by surface deformation. The larger the elastic modulus is, the more difficult the surface deformation is. The experiment of silicone oil leaching shows that the increase of alumina addition amount and the decrease of particle size will inhibit the leaching of silicone oil.

Highlights

IntroductionThe attachment of marine life to the hull surface will increase the navigation resistance and the weight of the ship, resulting in the reduction of the ship’s speed [1,2]
Traditional anti-fouling coatings are based on the release of toxic substances to achieve the purpose of anti-fouling and drag-reduction [4,5]
The results show that the elastic modulus is inversely proportional to the drag reduction rate, which proves that the elastic modulus is an important reason affecting the drag reduction rate

Summary

Introduction

The attachment of marine life to the hull surface will increase the navigation resistance and the weight of the ship, resulting in the reduction of the ship’s speed [1,2]. Measures are needed to hinder the fouling process of marine life. The most effective way is to use anti-fouling coatings. Traditional anti-fouling coatings are based on the release of toxic substances to achieve the purpose of anti-fouling and drag-reduction [4,5]. The tributyltin compounds are aggregated in the organism through the food chain, causing organ lesions and deformity [6]. It is disabled by the international maritime organization

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion