Novel Approach for Biofouling-Release Materials with Interpenetrating Polymer Networks
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0897-J03-02.1
Novel Approach for Biofouling-release Materials with Interpenetrating Polymer Networks Kenji Mori, Masanobu Naito*, Takashi Nakai, Michiya Fujiki*, and Takuma Kawabe Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, JAPAN ABSTRACT Environmentally friendly organic-inorganic hybrid materials with repellent activity against marine fouling organisms, such as blue mussel, have been developed using interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), composed of a 3-dimensional siloxane matrix of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and poly(vinylacetate) (PVAc). Facile bioassay using blue mussels allowed screening the adequate proportions of those components. The repellent activity of IPN with PVAc/silica reached approximately 90% at a specific fraction, relative to that of tributyl tin oxide (TBTO). On the other hand, poly(methylmethacrylate)(PMMA) /silica composite did not show marked repellent activity against blue mussel, even though chemical structure of MMA is similar to that of vinylacetate. INTRODUCTION Marine fouling organisms, such as barnacles and blue mussels, have caused serious economic losses by attaching themselves onto the hulls of ships, and pipes in power plants. A highly effective prevention method of these adhesion is self-polishing type antifouling paints, in which organometal compounds, such as tributyltin oxide (TBTO) or cuprous oxide, are hydrolyzed, and elute into hydrosphere to kill the marine fouling organisms [1]. Over the past decades, it has been reported that the eluted organotin compounds cause serious ocean pollution, interfere with immune system cell activity, and develop male characteristics to female organisms. TBTO has been, thus, suspected as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). The use of TBTO-containing antifouling paints, therefore, will be prohibited worldwide, and current efforts are focused towards development of alternative antifouling paints [1]. As an alternative of organometal containing antifouling paints, organosilicone-based paints are regarded as a most promising material without biocidal agents. Recently, certain fluorosilicone polymers revealed improved fouling release properties than those of a simple
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silicone polymer, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane). For example, the US Navy patented some fluorinated silicones with highly fouling release properties [2]. In these compounds, the fluorohexyl side group of the siloxane resulted in fewer barnacles, and less encrusting bryozoans, settling on the fluorosilicone panel, than on the poly(dimethylsilicone). However, the fluorinated silicone produced a higher level of algae fouling than its dimethyl analogue. Moreover, fluorinated silicones with repellent activities require a complicated multi-step synthesis and are not economically viable. Therefore, highly repellent active paints with affordable antifouling ability are desired as an immediate concern. Here we report a repellent active inorganic/organic materials based on a combination of a silica matrix
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