SYNTHESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE ANTIFOUL MARINE COATINGS

MEAD TECHNOLOGIES, INC. PROPOSES TO SYNTHESIZE FILM FORMING BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS, SPECIFICALLY A SERIES OF POLY ORGANOPHOSPHAZENES, TO SERVE AS PRIMARY VEHICLES FOR ANTIFOUL MARINE COATINGS. THE COATINGS ARE NON-METAL-CONTAINING FILMS WHICH WILL CONTROLLABLY REACT WITH SEA WATER AT THE DESIRED RATE TO CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDE A NEW SURFACE FOR FURTHER EROSION. THE PRODUCTS OF THE DEGRADATION WILL PROVIDE A LOCALIZED PH UNFAVORABLE TO BARNACLE AND WEED ATTACHMENT, WHILE NOT PRODUCING POLLUTANTSOR BIOLOGICAL TOXINS. ALSO, THESE THERMALLY STABLE, ELASTOMERIC POLYMERS SHOULD BE LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO IMPACT DAMAGE. THESE WILL BE SECONDARY COATINGS APPLIED OVER POLYURETHANE COATINGS WITH ADDITIVES, PROVIDING A SMOOTH, HARD FINISH FOR A GLOSSY, GOOD WEATHERING FILM. IN VITRO AND IN VIVO TESTING OF COATED PANELS IN SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL SEA WATER SHOULD CLEARLY ESTABLISH THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY DATA FOR OPTIMIZATION AND SCALE-UP OF THE POLYMER SYNTHESIS IN A FOLLOW UP PHASE 2.