Performance Of Antifouling Coatings Research Articles

Effect of the properties of long afterglow phosphors on the antifouling performance of silicone fouling-release coating

To improve the static antifouling performance of the fouling-release silicone antifouling coating, blue-green (BG), yellow-green (YG), and sky blue (SB) long afterglow phosphors (LAP) with two kinds of luminescence intensities are added into the silicone coating, respectively, and the LAP/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite antifouling coating with different colors and luminance was prepared. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), laser particle size analyzer, and fluorescence spectrometer, the crystal structure, particle size, fluorescence properties, and emission wavelength of LAP were studied. Through laser confocal scanning microscope (CLSM), tensile test, contact angle measurement, photometer, marine bacteria, and boat-shaped benthic diatom attachment test, the surface morphology and roughness, tensile properties, wettability, and surface of the coating were studied energy, fluorescence illuminance, and anti-fouling performance. The results showed that the addition of LAP increased the fracture strength, elastic modulus, and surface free energy of the coatings. Each kind of LAP can improve the performance of PDMS coatings to inhibit the adhesion of marine bacterial biofilm and benthic marine algae. The higher the luminous illuminance, the better the antifouling performance of the coating. The SB coating has the most excellent antifouling performance and in particular, the relative adhesion rate (RAR) of fouling organisms of the SB highlight LAP/PDMS composite antifouling coating is only 37.8 %. This research provides new ideas for the development of new fluorescent antifouling coatings and has a certain enlightening significance for improving the static antifouling performance of fouling-release antifouling coatings (FRC).

Influence of Phenylmethylsilicone Oil on Anti-Fouling and Drag-Reduction Performance of Silicone Composite Coatings

In this study, we explore the effect of phenylmethylsilicone oil (PSO) addition amount and viscosity in a fouling release coating based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The surface properties, mechanical properties, anti-fouling and drag-reduction performance of the coating were studied. Meanwhile the influence of the basic properties of the coating on the anti-fouling and drag-reduction performance was also studied. Subsequently, the antifouling performance of the coating was investigated by the Navicula Tenera and bacteria adhesion test. As a result, the high content of PSO paint has a high foul removal rate. The incorporation of PSO into paint can reduce the elastic modulus and surface energy of the coating to reduce its relative adhesion factor (RAF). The lower the RAF, the better the antifouling effect of the coating. The drag-reduction performance of the coating was verified by the torque selection experiment, and the results showed that incorporation of PSO into paint can enhance the elongation and hydrophobicity of the coating, thereby increasing the drag reduction rate of the coating.

Synthesis of PPG-TDI-BDO polyurethane and the influence of hard segment content on its structure and antifouling properties

Abstract Polyurethane have good anti-protein adsorption properties, could be used as an antifouling material. In this study, a type of polyurethane antifouling coating was prepared using 2,4-toluene diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as the hard segment and polyether polyols as the soft segment. The influence of hard segment content on the chemical structure, mechanical properties, and surface properties of the coatings was investigated. Subsequently, the antifouling performance of the polyurethane coatings was investigated by benthic diatom adhesion and panel tests. The results showed that coating H40 (polyurethane coating with a hard segment content of 40 wt.%) exhibited the best antifouling property. The antifouling performance of the coatings was further examined by evaluating the surface changes occurring in the polyurethane coatings during immersion in seawater. In situ diiodomethane contact angle measurements were performed to monitor such changes. The oil contact angle results were consistent with the results of the panel test. The oil contact angle and antifouling property are both determined by the surface roughness, which is determined by the level of microphase separation in the polyurethane coatings.

The use of proactive in-water grooming to improve the performance of ship hull antifouling coatings

The US Navy operates a large number of ships, however, unlike most commercial vessels they typically spend long periods of time in port where they may become fouled. This study investigated the feasibility of applying light cleaning (grooming) to maintain four surfaces free from fouling. The test surfaces were an ablative copper antifouling (AF) coating, a silicone fouling release (FR) coating, a two part marine epoxy, and a solid sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene plastic. The surfaces were exposed to static immersion in seawater on the East coast of Florida for 120 days and subjected to 3, 6, 12, and 24-day grooming intervals. Pre-groomed and post-groomed fouling conditions on each test surface were assessed and the maximum required lateral forces at each grooming event were measured. The results showed that grooming prevented or reduced the development of biofilm on the ablative copper coatings. The FR coatings that were groomed at the 3- and 6-day interval remained free from fouling until exposure to severe fouling pressure, which caused the 6-day interval to develop a small amount of fouling. Both the polytetrafluoroethylene and epoxy surfaces became fouled at all grooming frequencies, but fouling was reduced for the 3-day grooming frequency. The lateral forces required to groom the surfaces, with the exception of the FR coatings, increased with time. The results demonstrated that frequent grooming can have prolonged, positive effects on the AF performance of coatings.