Surface-fragmenting, self-polishing, tin-free antifouling coatings

Surface-fragmenting types of self-polishing tin-free resins were characteri zed by IR and NMR and demonstrated the successful synthesis of cupric carbo xylate. According to the IR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR measurements, it is clear that the unsaturated double bonds present in the resins changed into other new bonds after drying in a manner similar to alkyd resins. These resins w ere used as binders to prepare antifouling paints. Scanningelectron microsc opy (SEM), rotary tests, raft tests, and ship tests were used to investigat e the self-polishing phenomena and antifouling ability of this type of anti fouling paint. The SEM photographs obtained from the paint surfaces demonst rate self-polishing phenomena. From the rotary tests, the polishing rates o f paints were measured as 10 mu similar to 5.7 mu/month. The results from t he raft tests show that all of the paints exhibit excellent antifouling abi lity and are about 80 similar to 90% as effective as the conventional tin-c ontaining antifouling paints.