Surface modification of coatings through self-stratification

Surface modification of coatings through self-stratification will be discussed at the ECC "Marine Coatings III”

Source: Rob Bouwman-Fotolia.com

To develop truly non-toxic ship hull coatings is a challenging task. Fouling-release coatings based on silicones have shown some promise, but some organisms can still adhere well to these coatings and they also tend to be mechanically weak. Introducing a reactive low surface energy component such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) into a robust coating system such as a polyurethane can result in a tough coating with a low surface energy. Recently, it has been found that functionalizing the PDMS with hydrophilic groups can result in coatings having amphiphilic surfaces. Hydrophilic groups such as carboxylic acid and polyethylene glycol have been incorporated and been shown to be present on the coatings’ surfaces along with the PDMS. Laboratory assays have shown that the release properties of the coatings can be significantly varied by the incorporation of the hydrophilic groups. These and other interesting results Prof. Dean Webster (North Dakota State University) will present at the European Coatings Conference "Marine Coatings III” on 29 February 2012 in Berlin, Germany.

To the conference program