Abstract
Particles can be used to improve the mechanical properties of fouling release coatings based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In this study, coatings were prepared by high speed stirring using seven types of particles, with different particle size from nanometer to micrometer. The influence of specific surface area of the particles on the dispersion tolerance was investigated. The results showed that the dispersion tolerance of particles in PDMS decreased with the increase in specific surface area of the particle, and for nano particles, the factor most affecting the dispersion tolerance was the specific surface area of agglomerate particle. Subsequently, the surface properties, mechanical properties, and biofilm adhesion assay of coatings were investigated. Results indicated that surface roughness increased with the increase of dispersion tolerance. Surface roughness of samples improved the hydrophobicity of samples, yet the polar chemical group of nano silica and fumed silica reduced the hydrophobicity of samples. Further, particles could enhance the mechanical properties of coating, especially nano particles. Compared to the coating without particle, biofilm adhesion performance of coating with particles decreased, which was determined by the increase of the elastic modulus and surface roughness of coatings.
Highlights
Marine biofouling generally refers to the undesirable adhesion of marine organisms onto objects with the immersion in seawater
The tolerance chemical type, increased and shapes of Research results showed that the value of dispersion tolerance properties, of micro particle increased with decreasing specific surface area
Dispersion tolerance of micro/nano particle in PDMS was examined, and their influence on the properties of fouling release coatings based on PDMS was measured
Summary
Marine biofouling generally refers to the undesirable adhesion of marine organisms onto objects with the immersion in seawater. Fouling release coating based on PDMS has low surface energy and low elastic modulus [14] These properties minimize the adhesion strength between marine organisms, especially in microorganisms and substrate surfaces, and marine biofouling is removed via mechanical cleaning or hydrodynamic during sailing [1,15]. This antifouling coating has the following disadvantages [1,4]: mechanical damage is susceptible to happen and displays poor adhesion strength with substrates [16]. Most research studies have focused on PDMS-modified material, whereby PDMS is used as a substrate, and other organic materials provide high mechanical properties [17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26] It is less on determining the mechanical properties of coating influenced by particle. The effects of particle on properties of coatings were investigated under the condition of dispersion tolerance
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