On the mechanism of marine fouling-prevention performance of oil-containing silicone elastomers
Kolle, S.; Ahanotu, O.; Meeks, A.; Stafslien, S.; Kreder, M.; Vanderwal, L.; Cohen, L.; Waltz, G.; Lim, C.S.; Slocum, D.; Greene, E.M.; Hunsucker, K.; Swain, G.; Wendt, D.; Teo, S.L.-M.; Aizenberg, J. (2022). On the mechanism of marine fouling-prevention performance of oil-containing silicone elastomers. NPG Scientific Reports 12(1): 11799. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15553-4
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Kolle, S.
- Ahanotu, O.
- Meeks, A.
- Stafslien, S.
- Kreder, M.
- Vanderwal, L.
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- Cohen, L.
- Waltz, G.
- Lim, C.S.
- Slocum, D.
- Greene, E.M.
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- Hunsucker, K.
- Swain, G.
- Wendt, D.
- Teo, S.L.-M.
- Aizenberg, J.
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| Abstract |
For many decades, silicone elastomers with oil incorporated have served as fouling-release coating for marine applications. In a comprehensive study involving a series of laboratory-based marine fouling assays and extensive global field studies of up to 2-year duration, we compare polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings of the same composition loaded with oil via two different methods. One method used a traditional, one-pot pre-cure oil addition approach (o-PDMS) and another method used a newer post-cure infusion approach (i-PDMS). The latter displays a substantial improvement in biofouling prevention performance that exceeds established commercial silicone-based fouling-release coating standards. We interpret the differences in performance between one-pot and infused PDMS by developing a mechanistic model based on the Flory–Rehner theory of swollen polymer networks. Using this model, we propose that the chemical potential of the incorporated oil is a key consideration for the design of future fouling-release coatings, as the improved performance is driven by the formation and stabilization of an anti-adhesion oil overlayer on the polymer surface. |
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