Polysiloxane Coating Biocide Leaching for Marine Fouling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silicone-based fouling release coatings struggle to maintain a fouling-free surface for an extended period due to their inability to resist bio-fouling effectively over time, leading to increased drag resistance and reduced efficiency in marine vessels.
Innovation Solution
A polysiloxane-based binder matrix incorporating hydrophilic oligomer/polymer moieties and biocides, which facilitates controlled leaching of biocides, combining the benefits of fouling-release and antifouling coatings to achieve a low-friction, foul-free surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional PDMS coatings are used to create a low bio-fouling surface through physical means, then the surface exhibits low drag resistance, but the coatings fail to resist bio-fouling effectively over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two previously separate coating types into a single integrated coating: the fouling-release properties of silicone-based coatings and the biocidal antifouling properties of traditional antifouling coatings. This merging allows the coating to provide both low drag resistance and extended bio-fouling resistance over time, resolving the contradiction between initial fouling resistance and long-term effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material formulation by incorporating biocide-containing compounds into the polysiloxane binder matrix. This creates a composite coating material that exhibits both the physical fouling-release properties of silicone and the chemical antifouling properties of biocides, enabling extended protection against bio-fouling while maintaining low drag characteristics.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If biocide-based antifouling coatings are used to resist marine fouling, then the surface maintains fouling resistance over time, but the drag resistance increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both coating types by integrating biocidal functionality into a silicone-based fouling-release matrix. The resulting hybrid coating maintains the low surface energy and drag-reducing properties of silicone while incorporating controlled biocide release to prevent fouling accumulation, thereby avoiding the high drag resistance associated with traditional biocide-based coatings.
Solution Approach 2:
The biocidal compounds are incorporated into the binder matrix at controlled concentrations and release rates, providing localized antifouling action at the coating-fouling interface while maintaining the overall low-surface-energy properties of the silicone matrix that are responsible for drag reduction. This localized quality approach allows simultaneous achievement of low drag and extended fouling resistance.
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 proposed solution extends the slime-free period of silicone-based coatings, maintaining low drag resistance while effectively deterring marine fouling, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of marine vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a polysiloxane-based binder matrix having included as a part thereof hydrophilic oligomer/polymer moieties, and (ii) one or more biocides, which matrix facilitates and controls the leaching of the biocides
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses a fouling control cured paint coat comprising a polysiloxane- based binder matrix and one or more biocides, said binder matrix having included as a part thereof hydrophilic oligomer/polymer moieties, wherein the weight ratio between the hydrophilic oligomer/polymer moieties and the one or more biocides is in the range 1:0.02 to :20, and wherein =50 % of the binder system is polysiloxane parts. The application further discloses a marine structure comprising on at least a part of the outer surface thereof an outermost coating of the cured paint coat. Moreover, the application discloses the use of the combination of one or more polysiloxane components modified with hydrophilic oligomer/polymer moieties and one or more biocides, wherein the weight ratio between the hydrophilic oligomer/polymer moieties and the one or more biocides is in the range 1:0.02 to :20, for improving the antifouling properties of a polysiloxane based coating composition.