Modern approaches to marine antifouling coatings

Abstract

Marine structures such as platforms, jetties and ship hulls are subject to diverse and severe biofouling. Methods for inhibiting both organic and inorganic growth on wetted substrates are varied but most antifouling systems take the form of protective coatings. Biofouling can negatively affect the hydrodynamics of a hull by increasing the required propulsive power and the fuel consumption. This paper reviews the development of antifouling coatings for the prevention of marine biological fouling. As a result of the 2001 International Maritime Organization (IMO) ban on tributyltin (TBT), replacement antifouling coatings have to be environmentally acceptable as well as maintain a long life. Tin-free self-polishing copolymer (SPC) and foul release technologies are current applications but many alternatives have been suggested. Modern approaches to environmentally effective antifouling systems and their performance are highlighted.

Soil Films in the Beverage Industry: A Review

“…dental plaques on teeth, films on contact lenses, catheters, endotracheal tubes, prosthetic joints and mechanical cardiac valves), in the marine environment (e.g. fouling of ship hulls, ship and marine platforms, offshore rigs) and in the chemical process industry (fouling of membranes, heat exchangers, process vessels, pipes and product dispensing lines), resulting in poor hygiene and reduced product quality or sometimes food contamination 5,10,13,16,20,29,34,55 .…”

Progress of marine biofouling and antifouling technologies

“…Microorganism colonization involves two distinct steps: reversible adsorption, and irreversible adhesion. The former is governed mainly by physical effects such as Brownian motion, electrostatic interaction, gravity, water flow and van der Waals forces [7][8][9][10]. The latter occurs mainly through biochemical effects such as secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).…”

“…Two or three weeks later, these will finally evolve into a complex biological community. In marine immersion experiments, adhesion of macroorganisms usually occurs after biofilm formation [10,13]. However, this is not always the case [1,14], for instance the larvae of some species of bryozoans [15], polychaetes [16] and some other biofoulers [17] adhere before biofilm formation.…”

Preparation and properties of silicone fouling release coatings with long-life afterglow fluorescent

“…Surface properties of the PDMS coatings including surface free energy, elastic modulus and thickness are considered be important to the fouling release performance [3]. In addition, some researchers pointed out that incorporation of low molecular weight silicone oils into silicone coatings improves their fouling release properties [4].…”