TAGS: Marine / Protective Coatings Sustainability / Natural Coatings
Dublin City University (DCU) researchers discovers a material that stops biofouling, which is known to slow down ships and to hamper ocean sensing and energy devices.
Nature-inspired Coating Design
Biofouling is caused by biofilms. Within minutes of immersion in the water, microorganisms attach to the surface and start to develop a biofilm. It begins as a slimy texture, but ultimately can support larger organisms like barnacles or mussels.
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Material science studies in our laboratories have led to an understanding of how biofouling happens and how we can reduce its impact using a coating design which has been inspired from nature,” said professor Fiona Regan, who led the research.
The scientists were inspired by Brill, a small flatfish that inhabits sandy and muddy coastal waters. The texture on its scales has micro spacings that have dimensions that prevent normal biofilm development. This can be easily replicated.
The aim of researchers is to develop textures, that could be applied to large surfaces. This would help to protect boats, ocean energy blades, buoys and other surfaces that become impacted by biofouling.
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We would hope to investigate being able to generate these textures at scale for application to large surfaces,” continued Regan. “
Our work has discovered that these brill-inspired micro textures cause a disruption to the formation of a biofilm leading to surfaces that are easier to clean or have a slower rate of biofilm formation.”
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These factors are important for future developments of ocean energy blades, boats and buoys that become so impacted by natural biological growth that there is a huge cost for its removal,” added Regan.
Source: Dublin City University