Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-Based Polyurethane with Chemically Attached Antifoulants for Durable Marine Antibiofouling

Abstract

Marine biofouling is a problem for marine industry and maritime activities. We have prepared polyurethane with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) main chains and N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) maleimide (TCM) pendant groups via a combination of a thiol-ene click reaction and a condensation reaction and studied its properties. The polymer has low surface energy and a high water contact angle. When TCM content in bulk is high enough, sufficient antifoulant groups can be exposed on the surface. Our study reveals that such polymeric surface can effectively inhibit the adhesion and colonization of marine organisms such as bacteria (Micrococcus luteus), diatom Navicula, and barnacle cyprids. Particularly, marine field tests demonstrate that the polymer has excellent antibiofouling performance in 110 days.

Bioelastomers Based on Cocoa Shell Waste with Antioxidant Ability

“…The biodegradation of PDMS based on the cleavage of SiC bonds is too slow to be observed under the test conditions at room temperature . It has been shown that un‐crosslinked linear PDMS chains resist biofouling and for up to a month in sea water and biodegrading slowly starts to occur after 110 d . On the other hand, PDMS can be decomposed in soil/sludge depending on molecular weight and structure as well as the moisture and microorganism contents of soil .…”

“…PDMS is a well‐known nontoxic, biocompatible polymer and is safe for the environment . It was reported that cross‐linked PDMS exhibits minimal biodegradation under sea water due to low surface energy and inherent hydrophobicity leading to weak interactions with organisms in sea water . The biodegradation of PDMS based on the cleavage of SiC bonds is too slow to be observed under the test conditions at room temperature .…”

Amphiphilic Polymer Platforms: Surface Engineering of Films for Marine Antibiofouling

“…The latter strategies are based on various alternatives of supramolecular chemistry, self‐assembly, phase‐separation of polymers, and chemical building blocks for the creation of coatings with tunable nanoscale surface properties. Lately, a range of approaches has been investigated that span from bioinspired polymers incorporating bioactive molecules and enzymes to hydrophobic or hydrophilic self‐assembling monolayers, hydrophobic fluoropolymer networks, antimicrobial quaternary ammonium polymers, self‐stratifying polysiloxane hybrids, poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline)s and polyethylene glycol hydrogels, xerogels, zwitterionic polymers, layer‐by‐layer assemblies, nanocomposites containing nanofillers of varying nanoscale dimensions and photocatalytic nanoparticles, to self‐polishing silyl ester polymers …”

Synthesis and characterization of eco‐friendly siloxane‐semifluorinated polyurethane coatings for underwater application

“…Moreover, it was found that the materials having surface energy 23–25 mJ/m has the lowest interfacial tension with biological macromolecules and gives the minimum driving force for adsorption. It is further known that the surface energy of 23–25 mJ/m ensures the lowest possible bonding strength of fouling organisms …”