4.7 Article

Design and Development of Fluorinated and Biocide-Free Sol-Gel Based Hybrid Functional Coatings for Anti-Biofouling/Foul-Release Activity

Journal

GELS
Volume 8, Issue 9, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/gels8090538

Keywords

sol-gel technique; anti-fouling properties; fouling release activity; marine bacteria; non-biocide release; amphiphilic coating

Funding

  1. PON MUR 2014-2020 THALASSA-TecHnology And materials for safe Low consumption And low life cycle cost veSSels And crafts project-Area of specialization BLUE GROWTH [CUP ARS01_00293]
  2. Confindustria (Noxosorkem Group S.r.l.)
  3. CNR
  4. MIUR
  5. PON-MUR Ricerca e Innovazione 2014-2020 RESTART project

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Biofouling has detrimental effects on marine vessels, leading to increased fuel consumption and maintenance costs. This study focuses on the development of anti-fouling coatings using silica-based materials and fluorosilanes. The coatings exhibit excellent fouling release properties and antimicrobial activities, making them promising for marine applications.
Biofouling has destructive effects on shipping and leisure vessels, thus producing severe problems for marine and naval sectors due to corrosion with consequent elevated fuel consumption and higher maintenance costs. The development of anti-fouling or fouling release coatings creates deterrent surfaces that prevent the initial settlement of microorganisms. In this regard, new silica-based materials were prepared using two alkoxysilane cross-linkers containing epoxy and amine groups (i.e., 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, respectively), in combination with two functional fluoro-silane (i.e., 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl-trimethoxysilane and glycidyl-2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9-hexadecafluorononylether) featuring well-known hydro repellent and anti-corrosion properties. As a matter of fact, the co-condensation of alkoxysilane featuring epoxide and amine ends, also mixed with two opportune long chain and short chain perfluorosilane precursors, allows getting stable amphiphilic, non-toxic, fouling release coatings. The sol-gel mixtures on coated glass slides were fully characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, while the morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The fouling release properties were evaluated through tests on treated glass slides in different microbial suspensions in seawater-based mediums and in seawater natural microcosms. The developed fluorinated coatings show suitable antimicrobial activities and low adhesive properties; no biocidal effects were observed for the microorganisms (bacteria).

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