Effect of cleaning parameters on epoxy coating surface exposed in Denmark sea area

This study investigates how exactly mechanical cleaning parameters (cleaning time, cleaning frequency) affect different coatings’ performance during the cleaning schedule. The fouling resistance property and cleaning efficiency of a 2-K epoxy coating (2K-EC) with different cleaning parameters was compared in detail. Fouling resistance property was quantified by meaning fouling rating while cleaning efficiency was semi-quantified by fouling coverage on the coating surface. A self-designed manually cleaning system was developed for this early stage of the research. The whole experiment carried out in CoaST Maritime Test Center (CMTC) located in Denmark sea area. Results from the field testing showed that mechanical cleaning with both weekly and bi-weekly frequency can help to increase the fouling resistance property of 2K-EC. Additionally, in order to gain better fouling resistance property, cleaning intervals should be shorter than 2 weeks. The cleaning time had little effect on fouling resistance property of 2K-EC. The efficiency of cleaning 2K-EC surfaces at weekly intervals was better than the efficiency of cleaning at bi-weekly intervals under 5 s’ and 10 s’ cleaning. Longer cleaning time increased the cleaning efficiency of 2K-EC surfaces at the beginning of the cleaning schedule.