Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Limiting

Seawater

Silicone

Membrane

Pulp and paper industry

Biofouling

Biology

Fouling

Engineering

Composite material

Biocide

Chemistry

Ecology

Materials science

Chemical engineering

Biochemistry

Mechanical engineering

Langmuir

Marine biofouling profoundly influences marine industries and activities. It slows the speed and increases the fuel consumption of ships, corrodes offshore platforms, and blocks seawater pipelines. The most effective and economical antifouling approach uses coatings. Fouling-release coatings (FRCs) with low surface free energy and high elasticity weakly adhere to marine organisms, so they can be readily removed by the water shear force. FRCs have attracted increasing interest because they are biocide-free and hence ecofriendly. However, traditional silicone-based FRCs have weak adhesion to substrates, low mechanical strength, and low fouling resistance, limiting their applications. In recent years, many attempts have been made to improve their mechanical properties and fouling resistance. This review deals with the progress in the construction of high-performance silicone-based fouling-release surfaces.

Silicone-Based Fouling-Release Coatings for Marine Antifouling