Non-fouling Materials for Submerged Sensors

The Navy uses a variety of Submerged optical sensors in seawater. The use of such sensors will expand greatly when newly developed instruments are deployed for the detection of pollut- ants, particularly in the littoral zone. Fouling of exposed optical windows rapidly results in reduced transmission, and frequent maintenance is required to maintain effectiveness of the devices. Consequently, there is a need for new materials that allow light transmission in the visible and/or ultraviolet spec- tral ranges and are resistant to the attachment of fouling organisms Tin compounds have been used effectively as anti-fouling coatings, but environmental damage is a problem. Silicones are the most effective fouling-release materials without toxicants that have been tested to date. Under this program, modified silicones will investigated to provide improved anti-fouling properties, mechanical strength, and optical clarity.