Biodegradable SPC polyurethane coating

Self-polishing coatings (SPC) are widely being used in marine structures to protect metals from fouling. After restrictions on using toxic metals, coating industry are seeking environmentally-friendly SPC coatings that maintain their performance over extended periods. Unfortunately, most of the commercial SPC coatings contain different toxic materials, besides their performance is inadequate to prevent fouling under adverse conditions. The main mechanism of SPC coating is to facilitate the continuous renewal of the surface and the release of active compound via a hydrolysis reaction or an ion exchange reaction with seawater. In this study, polyurethane (PU) SPC coatings were synthesized by in-situ polymerization using biodegradable polyol. The polishing rate of coating was determined from the reduction in dry film thickness after artificial seawater immersion under a dynamic condition. The fouling resistance of coatings was considered after certain interval.