Amphiphilic marine coating systems of self-stratified PDMS-PEG surfaces with an epoxy-polyurethane matrix

Abstract

Marine coatings protect submerged surfaces from the negative effects of biofouling. In this work, we demonstrate a new method to prepare self-stratified, amphiphilic glycidyl-carbamate (GC)-based (epoxy urethane-based) coatings (AmpSiGC coatings) that have fouling-release properties making them suitable for marine use. The prepared coating systems are unique and durable in character as the bulk coating takes advantage of both epoxy and urethane functionalities while the surface is comprised of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, granting it an amphiphilic characteristic. The experimental approach aimed to evaluate several factors that influence coating performance, including molecular weight of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and PDMS moieties, ratio of hydrophobic (PDMS) and hydrophilic (PEG) components in the system, and the effect of different curing agents. The results demonstrated that polymeric chains of 10,000 𝑀 ̅ 𝑛 PDMS and 750 𝑀 ̅ 𝑛 PEG at 10-15 wt.% each offer substantially improved or comparable fouling-release performance in comparison to commercial marine coatings. This paper reports on the facile synthesis and characterization of the GC resin and GC prepolymers using FTIR and epoxy titrations; surface characterization of the coatings using ATR-FTIR, XPS, and AFM; and fouling-release assessment of the surfaces using laboratory biological assays with the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite, the algae Ulva linza and Navicula incerta, and the bacteria Cellulophaga lytica.

Glycidyl Carbamate Resins Synthesized through a Nonphosgene Route by Amidine-Based Superbases Using Recycled Polycarbonate

“…Because of this, the GC resins are different from PUs in terms of their reaction chemistry, properties, and applications. GC resins find applications in the areas of medical devices and marine coatings, , frost-resistant binders, impact modifiers for polyoxymethylene, flame-resistant foams for electronics, and space industry . Apart from that, an essential advantage of GC resins is the presence of self-cross-linking reactions of epoxide groups toward the active hydrogens of the carbamate, and the secondary hydroxyl group derived from the ring-opening reaction of epoxide group. , The ring-opening reaction of an epoxide group would generate a secondary hydroxyl group, which reacts with other epoxide groups to produce a cross-linked network, thereby resulting in a high cross-linking density in the epoxy resin .…”