INNOVATIVE NANOCOMPOSITE MATERIALS

Abstract

The present invention deals with the development of novel nanocomposite paints for biofouling removal coatings, which result from the mixing of two components, where the first component is an epoxy resin (component A) and the second component is a suitably modified polymerization agent (hardener). These hardeners are modified with hydrophobic nanoparticles based on functional dendritic polymers with symmetric or asymmetric architecture or based on functional inorganic nanoparticles (metal or metalloid nanoparticles or a mixture thereof). Both the polymeric nanoparticles and the inorganic nanoparticles were modified with suitable lipophilic groups. These nanocomposite paints addressed by the present invention exhibit organic microfilm control properties and can be effectively applied to objects immersed in seawater as biofouling removal coatings.