TAGS: Industrial Coatings Marine and Protective Coatings
Flinders University researchers have received a $150,000 State Government grant to develop and test new state-of-the-art coatings to prevent the growth of bio-contaminants.
Electrically Conducting Carbon-based Coatings
The new coatings will be tested in seawater, with DNA testing of marine organisms to test the results. Over more than four years, Flinders University researchers have developed the chemically engineered carbon-based coating to draw copper ions from sea water and then release them using electrical pulses.
The Defense Innovation Partnership grant, with partners at ASC, Defense and the University of Adelaide, will focus on delivering electrically conducting carbon-based coatings to prevent the growth of unwanted organisms on marine surfaces.
Project leaders Professor Mats Andersson and Associate Professor Sophie Leterme, who lead a research group called the Flinders Biofilm Research and Innovation Consortium (or BRIC), say maritime industry and naval ships and submarines also have a problem with buildup of marine organisms on hulls and other surfaces.
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Unwanted marine organisms grow on all surfaces and environments immersed in seawater,” they say. “
A fully developed biofouling community can, after just several months growing on an unprotected vessel, cause up to 40% more fuel consumption due to additional hull drag and poor manoeurvrability.”
Underwater coatings for the prevention of such marine growth include low surface energy fouling release coatings or anti-fouling paints, which contain slow-release biocides.
Better Environmental and Anti-fouling Techniques
The new project will focus on better environmental and anti-fouling techniques to protect vessels and harbors and marinas in more sustainable ways.
Preliminary research by BRIC group has shown that the marine growth or biofouling can be prevented by applying a light current of energy, presenting an opportunity for further development.
Over two years, the SA Defense Innovation Partnership’s Collaborative Research Fund has awarded almost $1.9 million to 11 collaborative projects, leveraging more than $4 million of university, defense and industry contributions.
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These projects will engage some of our best scientists and researchers with Australia’s leading defense research organization, Defense Science and Technology (Defense), and industry to tackle a range of defense issues,” says SA Premier Steven Marshall.
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When research institutions, academia, and industry come together in such a way as this, it results in impressive advances that will build our industry capability for the major defense projects centered in South Australia.”
The projects will help deliver advanced defense technologies and capabilities and enhance defense innovation in South Australia.
Source: Flinders University