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Title: Polysulfone and polyacrylate-based zwitterionic coatings for the prevention and easy removal of marine biofouling

Journal Article · · Biofouling
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND (United States)

A series of polysulfone and polyacrylate-based zwitterionic coatings were prepared on epoxy-primed aluminum substrata and characterized for their antifouling (AF) and fouling-release (FR) properties towards marine bacteria, microalgae and barnacles. The zwitterionic polymer coatings provided minimal resistance against bacterial biofilm retention and microalgal cell attachment, but facilitated good removal of attached microbial biomass by exposure to water-jet apparatus generated hydrodynamic shearing forces. Increasing the ion content of the coatings improved the AF properties, but required a stronger adhesive bond to the epoxy-primed aluminum substratum to prevent coating swelling and dissolution. Grafted poly(sulfobetaine) (gpSBMA), the most promising zwitterionic coating identified from microfouling evaluations, enabled the removal of four out of five barnacles reattached to its surface without incurring damage to their baseplates. As a result, this significant result indicated that gpSBMA relied predominately on its surface chemistry for its FR properties since it was very thin (~1–2 µm) relative to commercial coating standards (>200 µm).

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1235355
Report Number(s):
SAND-2015-9130J; 608009
Journal Information:
Biofouling, Vol. 31, Issue 7; ISSN 0892-7014
Publisher:
Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 26 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (14)

Biofouling in photobioreactors for marine microalgae journal April 2017
The effect of carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide incorporated in PDMS on biofilm community composition and subsequent mussel plantigrade settlement journal June 2016
Improved antifouling properties of photobioreactors by surface grafted sulfobetaine polymers journal October 2017
Mini-review: effect sizes and meta-analysis for antifouling research journal November 2018
Sediment challenge to promising ultra-low fouling hydrophilic surfaces in the marine environment journal April 2019
Marine antifouling performance of polymer coatings incorporating zwitterions text January 2017
Marine antifouling performance of polymer coatings incorporating zwitterions journal October 2017
The effect of carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide incorporated in PDMS on biofilm community composition and subsequent mussel plantigrade settlement text January 2016
Improved antifouling properties of photobioreactors by surface grafted sulfobetaine polymers text January 2017
Sediment challenge to promising ultra-low fouling hydrophilic surfaces in the marine environment text January 2019
The effect of carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide incorporated in PDMS on biofilm community composition and subsequent mussel plantigrade settlement text January 2016
Sediment challenge to promising ultra-low fouling hydrophilic surfaces in the marine environment text January 2019
Improved antifouling properties of photobioreactors by surface grafted sulfobetaine polymers text January 2017
Marine antifouling performance of polymer coatings incorporating zwitterions text January 2017

Figures / Tables (10)