Antifouling properties of amphiphilic poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate): an environmentally-friendly coating.

The development of biofouling is a major problem for marine industries. The conception of antifouling and fouling release coatings, with controlled physical-chemical properties is a promising strategy. Among them, amphiphilic systems, such as those composed of a hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane matrix and a hydrophilic polyethyleneglycol additive are the most efficient and up to date. Despite their effectiveness, these systems are questioned due to the petrochemical origin of PDMS. The aim of this project was to substitute the PDMS matrix with a biopolymer, poly(3-hydroxybuyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and to improve its anti-adhesion properties through the elaboration of an amphiphilic system, via the addition of PEG or PHBHHx-b-PEG copolymer. The results, including the physico-chemical properties of PHBHV based coatings and static adhesion tests on a marine bacterium, Bacillus 4J6 and a diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum are compared with those of PDMS and PEG-modified PDMS coatings. Real antiadhesion activity was obtained for the PHBHV/PHBHHx-b-PEG system for a promising eco-friendly strategy.

Study of erodable paint properties involved in antifouling activity.

To produce ecological marine paints, it is necessary to understand the phenomena involved in antifouling activity. Due to the multivariable components which have to be taken into account and due to their analytical intricacy, only studies based on selected properties are conceivable. In this study, four properties have been chosen, viz. erosion, biocide release, roughness and the physicochemical characteristics of the film surface. A principal-component analysis (PCA) of the experimental data has shown that, among the selected properties, only erosion affected antifouling efficiency. A more detailed investigation of erosion by quantifying global hydration and hydrolysis of immersed paints revealed the difficulty in linking the chemical structure of binders to the final erosion properties. Biocide release from paints, quantified by chromatographic methods coupled with UV detection, was inferior to the doses stated by the paint producers. These observations allowed the conceiving of formulations with reduced amounts of active molecules. The development of erodable, biodegradable binders associated with non toxic compounds is a promising way to obtain efficient antifouling paints compatible with existing, preventive systems.