A Paintable, Scalable, and Durable Zwitterionic Hydrogel Coating for Enhanced Marine Antifouling Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Marine Biology
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Marine biofouling significantly impacts maritime trade efficiency and safety.
• Current antifouling coatings face limitations due to toxicity, environmental concerns, and cost.
• Zwitterionic materials show promise for antifouling due to superhydrophilicity and biocompatibility, but substrate adhesion is a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a paintable, scalable, and durable zwitterionic hydrogel coating for marine antifouling applications.
• To overcome the substrate adhesion limitations of zwitterionic materials.
• To evaluate the antifouling performance and durability of the developed coating system.

Main Methods:

• A zwitterionic hydrogel (PSDA-Z) was synthesized and covalently attached to substrates using an acrylated epoxy resin primer.
• The coating's durability was tested under conditions of high-speed water shearing, sandpaper abrasion, and scratching.
• Field tests were conducted in the Atlantic Ocean for 3 months, comparing performance against self-polishing coatings (SPCs).

Main Results:

• The PSDA-Z coating demonstrated excellent antifouling performance and durability, maintaining efficacy after 3 months of harsh testing.
• The coating adhered well to various substrates (epoxy resin, PVC, PU, wood) without special pre-treatment.
• Field test results showed antifouling performance comparable to commercial SPCs.

Conclusions:

• The developed zwitterionic hydrogel coating system presents a durable, effective, and potentially eco-friendly solution for marine biofouling.
• The covalent attachment strategy successfully addressed the adhesion challenge for superhydrophilic zwitterionic materials.
• This technology holds significant promise as a sustainable alternative to conventional marine antifouling coatings.