Synthesis and evaluation of polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene-dodecafluoroheptyl...

Copolymers SBS-DFHMA and mesoporous silica SBA-15 were respectively synthesized and SBS-DFHMA were mixed with SBA-15 to prepared hybrid antifouling coatings by a spin-coater. By measuring the surface water contact angle and the attachment of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Chlorella and Diatoms, the antifouling properties of coatings were evaluated. The results shown that the surface of hybrid coatings, the water contact angle arrived 120°, were more hydrophobic than the SBS-DFHMA coatings. In terms of resistance of adhesion, low surface energy coatings of SBS-DFHMA could effectively weaken the adhesion behavior of P.fluorescens and Diatoms, but the role to Chlorella was not obvious. When 0.01 g/ml SBA-15 was added, the adhesion of three marine microorganisms all had a very significant decrease to the hybrid coatings. These indicated that the fluorinated low surface energy antifouling coatings had limitation on resisting Chlorella attaching, and the addition of SBA-15 not only enhanced the ability of resistance to adhesion but also widen the applicability to more fouling and narrowed its limitations. This surprising effect was due to micro-nano convex structure of the coatings surface caused by hybrid.