Nanoparticles in marine antifouling coatings: a case study

Abstract

The problem of fouling of hydraulic structures, marine structures, ships and vessels has been acute since the beginning of the era of navigation. The formation of a biofilm of fouling reduces the speed of the vessel, worsens its controllability, increases fuel consumption, shortens the service life of hydraulic structures and increases the load on them. Many methods have been proposed to control fouling. One of the most promising coatings is considered to be based on the use of nanoparticles of biologically active metals and their oxides. The paper discusses various strategies for using nanoparticles to combat biofouling. The paper also presents preliminary results of a study of the antifouling efficiency of coatings modified with nanoparticles of metal oxides Fe-ZnO, ZnO, CuO. The study was carried out by exposing plates with experimental compositions at the sea test site in the Sevastopol Bay for a year, starting from August 2020. The species composition of a separate group of microperiphyton - microalgae - on plates with experimental coatings in the first two months of exposure, as well as the result of photographic fixation of the state of the surface of the plates from the point of view of macro-fouling, was investigated.