# US 12,180,388 B2 · Method of treatment of a surface

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- Number: US 12,180,388 B2
- Document ID: US12180388B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/291,051
- Filed: 2019-11-05
- Published: 2021-12-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-08
- Assignees: Conopco, Inc.
- Applicants: Conopco, Inc.
- Inventors: Panagiotis Kotsakis; Neil James Parry; Gordon Ramage; Tracy Lynn Young
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180388B2

## CPC

- C09D 5/1625: {organic}
- C08K 5/0058: {Biocides; (macromolecular substances as carriers for biocide material A01N25/10)}
- C08K 5/3415: Five-membered rings
- C09D 5/14: Paints containing biocides, e.g. fungicides, insecticides or pesticides (C09D5/16 takes precedence)
- C09D 7/63: organic
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)

## Abstract

A method of treatment of a marine surface to improve the resistance of the surface to fouling from a marine organism, the method comprising treatment of a surface prone to fouling from a marine organism with a composition comprising a lactam, wherein the composition comprises from 0.0005 to 5 wt. % of a lactam; wherein the surface to be treated is selected from steel, light alloy, plastic or composites; and, wherein the marine organism is Vibrio anguillarium, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Cellulophaga lytica either alone or comprised in a mixture with any other marine organism; to a composition comprising the lactam and to the use of the lactam to inhibit growth of a marine organism on a marine surface, wherein the surface to be treated is selected from steel, light alloy, plastic or composites; and, wherein the marine organism is Vibrio anguillarium, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Cellulophaga lytica either alone or comprised in a mixture with any other marine organism; and to use of the lactam to impart anti-biofilm properties to a marine surface, wherein the surface to be treated is selected from steel, light alloy, plastic or composites.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of treatment of a marine surface to improve the resistance of the surface to fouling from a marine organism, the method comprising:
treating a surface prone to fouling from a marine organism with a composition comprising a lactam, wherein the composition is a hydrophobic coating and comprises from 0.01 to 1 wt. % of the lactam;
wherein the surface to be treated is selected from steel, light alloy, plastic or composites; and,
wherein the marine organism is Vibrio anguillarium, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Cellulophaga lytica either alone or comprised in a mixture with any other marine organism; and,
wherein the lactam is selected from:

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the marine organism comprises a mixture comprising at least the following: Pseudoalteromonas atlantica, Cellulophaga lytica, Shewanella algae, Cobetia marina, Vibrio anguillarium, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the lactam is:

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the lactam is delivered from an aqueous based composition, or an organic solvent based composition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the marine surface is chosen from a partially or fully submerged, static or moving structure.

### Claim 6

A composition tor treatment of a marine surface, the composition comprising:
from 0.01 to 1 wt % of a lactam, wherein the composition is hydrophobic and in the form of a free association paint, a self-polishing co-polymer paint or a foul release paint;
wherein the surface to be treated is selected from steel, light alloy, plastic or composites; and,
wherein the marine organism is Vibrio anguillarium, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Cellulophaga lytica either alone or comprised in a mixture with any other marine organism; and
wherein the lactam is selected from:

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A composition according to claim 6, wherein the lactam is:

### Claim 8

A method of using a lactam to inhibit growth of a marine organism on a marine surface, the method comprising:
treating the marine surface with a hydrophobic composition comprising the lactam;
wherein the surface to be treated is selected from steel, light alloy, plastic or composites; and,
wherein the marine organism is Vibrio anguillarium, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Cellulophaga lytica either alone or comprised in a mixture with any other marine organism; and, wherein the lactam is selected from: