Development of nontoxic self-polishing coatings with optimal self-polishing, nonfouling and bulk stability

The commercially available antifouling self-polishing coatings for ships are toxic with copper and organic biocides while the commercially available fouling-release coatings have inherent hydrophobicity that reduces its efficiency when the ship is stagnant. This project aims to develop environmentally benign self-polishing nonfouling pseudo-zwitterionic polymer coatings, which are easy to synthesize at low cost, readily applicable over a large area and have a target lifetime of 3, 7 or even 12 years. The target application is bottom paint coating for ships. This is achieved through uniquely designed materials with appropriate hydrolysis rates. The composition and polymer architecture of the coating materials can be readily altered and controlled. The proposed self-polishing coatings in this project are made of nontoxic, nonfouling pseudo-zwitterionic polymers, which will maintain the zwitterionic functionality at the interface throughout the lifetime of the coating. In the optional phase, the coatings will be further studied by their phase behaviors and further improved for their long-term performance.