TY - JOUR
T1 - Silica aerogel-encapsulated biocide crystals for low-loading antifouling coatings: rheology, water absorption, hardness, and biofouling protection
AU - Frydenberg, Tenna
AU - Weinell, Claus Erik
AU - Dam-Johansen, Kim
AU - Wallstrom, Eva
AU - Kiil, Søren
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - To protect surfaces against marine biofouling, the continuous leaching of biocides, such as cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and copper pyrithione (CuPT), from antifouling coatings is a widespread and effective method. However, from an environmental and economic perspective (costs of raw materials), a high biocide loading of formulations is not sustainable. Silica aerogel-encapsulated CuPT is a promising approach to reduce Cu2O and CuPT loadings without compromising the mechanical properties and antifouling performance of the coating. In the present study, silica aerogels, with varying CuPT loadings, were incorporated into model coating formulations, and selected coating properties, i.e., rheology, water absorption, and hardness, were measured and evaluated. Furthermore, to demonstrate antifouling performance, static exposure testing with the aerogel-containing coatings was performed. The level of CuPT loading of the silica aerogels did not have a significant influence on neither the water absorption nor the rheology of the coating. However, an increase in the CuPT loading of the aerogel from 0 to 80 wt% reduced the coating's pendulum hardness from 61 to 37 s. Additionally, compared to a reference coating with nonencapsulated CuPT, results demonstrate that a coating containing silica aerogel-encapsulated CuPT provides a 17% higher antifouling resistance when evaluated according to guidance from The European Chemicals Agency.
AB - To protect surfaces against marine biofouling, the continuous leaching of biocides, such as cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and copper pyrithione (CuPT), from antifouling coatings is a widespread and effective method. However, from an environmental and economic perspective (costs of raw materials), a high biocide loading of formulations is not sustainable. Silica aerogel-encapsulated CuPT is a promising approach to reduce Cu2O and CuPT loadings without compromising the mechanical properties and antifouling performance of the coating. In the present study, silica aerogels, with varying CuPT loadings, were incorporated into model coating formulations, and selected coating properties, i.e., rheology, water absorption, and hardness, were measured and evaluated. Furthermore, to demonstrate antifouling performance, static exposure testing with the aerogel-containing coatings was performed. The level of CuPT loading of the silica aerogels did not have a significant influence on neither the water absorption nor the rheology of the coating. However, an increase in the CuPT loading of the aerogel from 0 to 80 wt% reduced the coating's pendulum hardness from 61 to 37 s. Additionally, compared to a reference coating with nonencapsulated CuPT, results demonstrate that a coating containing silica aerogel-encapsulated CuPT provides a 17% higher antifouling resistance when evaluated according to guidance from The European Chemicals Agency.
U2 - 10.1007/s11998-022-00713-y
DO - 10.1007/s11998-022-00713-y
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1547-0091
VL - 20
SP - 935
EP - 947
JO - Journal of Coatings Technology and Research
JF - Journal of Coatings Technology and Research
ER -