Robust nontoxic antifouling elastomers
OwnerRobert F. Brady JR.inventor
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Abstract
The invention herein pertains to a method for reducing adhesion of marine organisms to a substrate and an article that is a substrate having thereon a solid coating of a fluorinated polyurethane elastomer. The elastomer is tough and has antifouling and release properties in reference to marine organisms. The method includes the steps of providing a liquid mixture of the fluorinated polyurethane elastomer, applying the elastomer mixture to said substrate, and curing the elastomer mixture to a solid coating of the fluorinated polyurethane elastomer, the elastomer having surface energy (which is a function of fluorine content) of 15-30 milli J/m2, Young's modulus of elasticity of 2-15 MPa, and fluorine content of 3-25%.
Claims19
A method for reducing adhesion of marine organisms to a substrate comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a liquid mixture of a fluorinated polyurethane elastomer,
- (b) applying the elastomer mixture to said substrate, and
- (c) curing the elastomer mixture to a solid coating of the fluorinated polyurethane elastomer, the elastomer having surface energy of 15-30 milli J/m2, Young's modulus of elasticity of 2-15 MPa, and fluorine content of 3-25%.
An article comprising a substrate and a rubbery fluorinated polyurethane elastomer in dry form adhering to said substrate, said elastomer is a reaction product of a base component containing a polyol, or a mixture thereof, and a curing agent containing a diisocyanate, or a mixture thereof, said elastomer is nontoxic to marine organisms and has surface energy of 15-30 milli J/m2, Young's modulus of elasticity of less than about 2-15 Mpa, and fluorine content of 3-25%, so that it has sufficient antifouling and release properties with respect to marine organisms and sufficient toughness to serve as a coating on the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.