Durable self-polishing antifouling coating based on fluorine-containing pyrrolidone amphiphilic copolymer-functionalized nanosilica

Marine biofouling is detrimental to ships and has been a significant issue in the marine industry for several decades. The development of effective, long-term, and environment-friendly antifouling coating is important but remains a challenge in oceanographic engineering. A series of novel amphiphilic block copolymers (PVP-co- PTFEMA), containing hydrophilic segments (N-vinylpyrrolidone, or NVP) and hydrophobic segments (tri-fluoromethyl methacrylate, or TFEMA), are grafted on the nanosilica surface via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The as-prepared amphiphilic copolymers-functionalized silica, SiO2-g-(PVP-co- PTFEMA), can be blended well with self-polishing resin, which could obtain a new type of self-polishing nanocomposite coating. The SiO2-g-(PVP-co-PTFEMA) based composite coating exhibits satisfactory antibacte-rial and antifouling properties due to the synergistic effect of a strong hydration layer of hydrophilic NVP fragments and low adhesion of hydrophobic TFEMA unit. The slow hydrolysis of the as-prepared self-polishing nanocomposite coating results in the formation of micro/nano structures due to the exposure of SiO2-g-(PVP-co- PTFEMA) in seawater. Moreover, the SiO2-g-(PVP-co-PTFEMA) based nanocomposite coating exhibits high me-chanical durability. The as-prepared self-polishing nanocomposite coating combines outstanding antifouling performance and high mechanical durability, which could be an ideal choice in marine antifouling applications.

Automated summary

Marine biofouling is harmful to ships and developing effective antifouling coatings is important. A novel self-polishing nanocomposite coating was prepared by modifying nanosilica, showing satisfactory antibacterial and antifouling properties as well as high mechanical durability.