Antifouling and Fouling-Release Performance of Photo-Embossed Fluorogel Elastomers

Abstract

Oil-infused 'slippery' polymer surfaces and engineered surface textures have been separately shown to reduce settlement or adhesion strength of marine biofouling organisms. Here, we combine these two approaches in fluorogel surfaces infused with perfluorinated oils, via a facile photo-embossing method that allows the generation of a micro-scale surface relief structure while retaining the properties of lubricant-infused materials. Testing of these surfaces against a range of marine fouling challenges in laboratory assays demonstrated that when the volume percentage of perfluorinated oil was high, adhesion strengths of attached barnacles and biofilms were low. However, diatoms adhered strongly to test surfaces, highlighting the need to explore different combinations of polymer and oil for such surfaces. Furthermore, the tested surface structures increased settlement and adhesion in the assays, demonstrating the need to optimize any surface structure for specific applications. Nevertheless, the results show the feasibility of combining multiple approaches to create future antifouling technologies.

Thermoplastic, rubber-like marine antifouling coatings with micro-structures via mechanical embossing

“…Unfortunately, the material cost of such coatings is quite high and the generation of surface relief structures is laborious and difficult to scale-up due to the crosslinked nature of these coatings. Processes to generate such surface relief structures have been developed but involve complex and costly mask exposures, etching procedures and/or dedicated equipment for simultaneous ultra-violet light curing and surface structuring (Stenzel et al 2010;Stenzel et al 2011;Kordy 2015;Kommeren et al 2016;Kommeren et al 2019).…”

“…Recently, oil-infused crosslinked polymers have shown promise in this regard (Boggs et al 2012;Xiao et al 2013;Miserez et al 2017;Kommeren et al 2019). In these systems, crosslinked synthetic polymers based on fluoropolymers or polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) are used with a large volume fraction of oligomeric species, lubricants and/or oils.…”

Research Strategies to Develop Environmentally Friendly Marine Antifouling Coatings

“…Oil-infused ‘slippery’ polymer surfaces and engineered surface textures have been separately shown to reduce settlement or adhesion strength of marine biofouling organisms. Kommeren et al [ 78 ] created liquid-infused surfaces embossed with surface structures. They used a photo-embossing process to create perfluorinated oil-infused fluorinated meth (acrylate) coatings with tuneable surface topography.…”

Recent Developments in Biomimetic Antifouling Materials: A Review

“…The coating surface chemistry is engineered so that the adhesive bond between most fouling organisms (ideally all) is weak, and therefore “sloughing off” of fouling happens readily and at low hydrodynamic shear forces (relatively low ship speeds while underway, for example). This is the principle objective of “foul-release” coatings (most of which now contain “lubricant” oils) that are still undergoing development and optimisation for different applications [ 42 , 43 ]. The potential influences of many different aspects of these coatings on biofouling (and foul release) have been examined, including the effects of surface roughness and added texture (topography) [ 44 ], the effects of different mechanical properties of coatings including elastic modulus [ 45 ], the effects of different chemical additives (especially chemically compatible, but largely biological inert lubricants), and the combined effects of surface energy [ 46 ].…”