Advanced Marine Coatings for Naval Vessels - Phase 1. Antifouling and Fouling Release Coatings

Abstract : This report describes the first phase of a long-term program aimed at establishing a facility that can address protective coatings research needs of the Department of Defense using the latest in combinatorial materials chemistry high-throughput discovery and evaluation methodology. The protective coatings application being addressed is environmentally compliant antifouling and fouling release coating for Navy ships. The objectives of Phase I were to: (1) initiate research on novel antifouling and fouling release coatings, and (2) develop and implement a facility for combinatorial high throughput experimentation for polymer materials and marine coating design, development, and evaluation. Both objectives were accomplished. The first groups of coatings, containing novel bound biocides on a silicone backbone and prepared through conventional synthesis methods, had several formulations that gave promising results during tests at ONR-supported test sites.