Study of Antifouling Performance of Anode Available Chlorine Storage Coating for Marine Engineering

Abstract

This study investigated the integration of N-halamines into conductive coatings to develop anode available chlorine storage anti-fouling coatings. When the coating is exposed to seawater and utilized as an anode with a weak current applied, the available chlorine evolution process is completed. A portion of the released available chlorine directly eliminates attached microorganisms, while another portion transforms the N-H bonds in N-halamines into N-Cl bonds, thereby storing available chlorine. This stored available chlorine is then gradually and consistently released into the surrounding seawater, continuously repelling and eradicating microorganisms. After the release of available chlorine from the N-Cl bonds, these bonds can be regenerated through electrolysis When the coating is electrolyzed for 15 minutes at 2V, it accomplishes available chlorine storage, releasing available chlorine at a uniform rate, and achieving a surface concentration of 0.133 ppm. This sustained release maintains the coating's antifouling efficacy for 16-21 hours post a single available chlorine storage, inhibiting over 70% bacterial adhesion within a 20-hour period. This demonstrates both the feasibility and effectiveness of this marine antifouling approach.

Keywords: Electrolytic antifouling, N-halamines, Marine antifouling, Chlorine storage