Fluorinated/siloxane copolymer blends for fouling release: chemical characterisation and biological evaluation with algae and barnacles

I Marabotti, A Morelli, LM Orsini, E Martinelli, G Galli, E Chiellini, EM Lien, Michala Pettitt, Maureen Callow, James Callow, SL Conlan, RJ Mutton, AS Clare, A Kocijan, C Donik, M Jenko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fouling-release coatings were prepared from blends of a fluorinated/siloxane copolymer with a poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) matrix in order to couple the low modulus character of PDMS with the low surface tension typical for fluorinated polymers. The content of the surface-active copolymer was varied in the blend over a broad range (0.15-10 wt % with respect to PDMS). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling analyses were performed on the coatings to establish the distribution of specific chemical constituents throughout the coatings, and proved enrichment in fluorine of the outermost layers of the coating surface. Addition of the fluorinated/siloxane copolymer to the PDMS matrix resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in settlement of barnacle, Balanus amphitrite, cyprids. The release of young plants of Ulva, a soft fouling species, and young barnacles showed that adhesion strength on the fluorinated/siloxane copolymer was significantly lower than the siloxane control. However, differences in adhesion strength were not directly correlated with the concentration of copolymer in the blends.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)481-493
Number of pages13
JournalBiofouling
Volume25
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009

Keywords

  • siloxane copolymer
  • marine coating
  • antifouling
  • fouling-release blend
  • fluorinated copolymer

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fluorinated/siloxane copolymer blends for fouling release: chemical characterisation and biological evaluation with algae and barnacles'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this