Antifouling Paint Resin Based on Polyurethane Matrix with Quaternary Ammonium Salt

Abstract

Recently, the development of a new class of anti-fouling paint resin which has excellent anti-fouling performance and no persistence in the marine ecology is necessary. In this study, we first polymerized polyurethanes (PUs) as the other type of matrix which have carboxylic acid groups by using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and 2,2'-bis(hydroxyl methyl)-propionic acid (DMPA). And next, we synthesized final resins having quaternary ammonium salts on pendant acid groups of PUs. After synthesis, the physical self-polishing property of resin by the measurement of reduced thickness in sea water was tested. The mechanical property of antifouling paint resin was good when the molecular weight of PEG was 600 or less. It was confirmed that the adhesion of PU resin was deteriorated when the content of quaternary ammonium salt was incorporated over specific value.Keywords: tin-free antifouling paint, self-polishing copolymer (SPC), polyurethane (PU) resin, quaternary ammonium salt.