Antifouling Polymer with Salt Groups for Marine Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antifouling paints for marine applications face challenges due to the prohibition of tri-organotin and the need for improved chemical stability, as they are prone to fouling by aquatic organisms, which increases frictional resistance and reduces efficiency in marine structures.
Innovation Solution
A film-forming polymer with pendant salts of a strong acid and a strong base, where the acid has a pKa of 2.0 or less and the base has a pKa of 4.0 or more, is used in antifouling coating compositions, enhancing chemical stability and biocidal efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tri-organotin is used in antifouling paints, then biocidal efficacy is improved, but environmental compliance deteriorates due to worldwide prohibition
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the binder system by using salts of strong acids and strong bases with specific pKa values (acid pKa ≤ 2.0, base pKa ≥ 4.0), replacing the prohibited tri-organotin biocides while maintaining antifouling effectiveness through controlled erosion and biocide release mechanisms that comply with environmental regulations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite binder system combining polymer matrices with specific salt compositions (strong acid-strong base salts) and biocidal pigments, forming a multifunctional material that provides both structural integrity and controlled biocide release without using prohibited substances
2Stability of the object's composition
If rosin binder is used in antifouling paints, then chemical stability is improved, but paint film erosion and biocide release become uncontrolled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the chemical parameters of the binder by selecting salts with specific pKa ranges (strong acid with pKa ≤ 2.0 and strong base with pKa ≥ 4.0), which provides optimal balance between chemical stability during storage and controlled erosion rate during service, enabling predictable biocide release over time
3Reliability
If self-polishing copolymer paints are used, then antifouling performance is improved, but chemical stability deteriorates due to premature erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the chemical parameters of the binder system by using strong acid-strong base salt combinations with specific pKa values, which enhances chemical stability and prevents premature erosion while maintaining effective biocide release rates for sustained antifouling performance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The polymer improves the chemical stability and antifouling performance by forming a stable salt that effectively inhibits the growth of marine organisms, reducing fouling and maintaining paint integrity over time.
Implementation Method 1
The coating composition is characterised in that the binder polymer comprises pendant to the backbone one or more salts of amine- or phosphine-functional groups and/or one or more salts of phosphine-functional groups
Data Source
AI summary
A film-forming polymer with improved chemical stability in antifouling coating applications, said polymer bearing pendant to its backbone a salt of (i) a basic group with a first pKa of the conjugate acid of at least 4.0 and (ii) an organic acid with a first pKa of 2.0 or less; said basic group being covalently bonded to the polymer backbone.