Strategy to construct polyzwitterionic hydrogel coating with antifouling, drag-reducing and weak swelling performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Marine Biology
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Biological fouling is a significant economic issue caused by marine microorganism attachment to submerged surfaces.
• Existing antifouling methods often rely on stiff, solid materials, which can be prone to detachment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel soft and wet antifouling coating using zwitterionic polymers.
• To investigate the antifouling and drag reduction properties of a bicomponent hydrogel coating.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a bicomponent hydrogel coating combining poly-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-N-(methacryloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium betaine (PSBMA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA).
• Evaluation of the coating's mechanical properties, swelling behavior, adhesion, and performance under simulated marine conditions (sandy water abrasion).
• Assessment of antifouling properties through anti-bacterial adhesion and anti-protein adsorption tests.

Main Results:

• The bicomponent hydrogel coating exhibited strong tensile properties, good compression performance, and slipperiness.
• The coating showed weak swelling in saline solution, ensuring good adhesion to substrates.
• Demonstrated excellent durability against abrasion and effective anti-bacterial adhesion and anti-protein adsorption.
• Achieved a low friction coefficient at high sliding rates, contributing to drag reduction.

Conclusions:

• The developed zwitterionic hydrogel coating offers a promising new strategy for marine antifouling and drag reduction.
• The coating's unique properties, including durability and resistance to fouling, make it suitable for demanding marine environments.