Cold spray metal embedment: an innovative antifouling technology

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Marine Biology
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Marine biofouling poses significant challenges to submerged structures, increasing drag and maintenance costs.
• Traditional antifouling coatings often contain toxic biocides with environmental concerns.
• Developing effective and environmentally friendlier antifouling strategies is crucial for marine applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of copper particle embedment into thermoplastic polymers using cold spray technology as an antifouling solution.
• To investigate the influence of polymer properties and cold spray parameters on antifouling performance.
• To compare the performance of copper-embedded polymers with conventional controls.

Main Methods:

• Two thermoplastic polymers, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and nylon, were metallized with copper powder via cold spray.
• The antifouling performance of the treated polymers was assessed in a 250-day field exposure study.
• Analytical techniques were employed to determine copper ion release rates and correlate them with fouling resistance.

Main Results:

• Copper-embedded HDPE exhibited complete resistance to hard fouling, while copper-embedded nylon showed significant fouling.
• Control samples (unmetallized polymers and copper plates) displayed varying degrees of soft and hard fouling.
• Antifouling success was linked to polymer properties (elastic modulus, hardness) influencing copper particle embedment depth and subsequent ion release.

Conclusions:

• Cold spray embedding of copper particles is a viable antifouling technology for polymers, particularly challenging substrates.
• The effectiveness of this method depends on the interplay between the cold spray process, polymer characteristics, and copper ion release.
• This approach offers a promising alternative to conventional antifouling coatings for marine applications.