Marine antifoulant coating
AssigneeReintjes Marine Surface Technologies, LLC
InventorLarry Weidman
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Abstract
A protective coating applied to the underwater portion of a marine vessel operable to inhibit the growth of marine foulants. The coating comprises a polymer, a marine biocide, a preservative, and optionally an antimicrobial agent. In certain embodiments, the marine biocide, preservative, and optional antimicrobial agent are chemically bonded with the polymer thereby significantly reducing the ability of the biocide, preservative, and antimicrobial agent to leach from the coating into the surrounding environment.
Claims21
A marine antifoulant coating for application to a surface of a marine vessel said coating comprising:
- between about 40% to about 70% by weight of a polymer;
- between about 37% to about 55% by weight of a marine biocide;
- and
- between about 2% to about 12% by weight of a preservative.
A method of forming a marine antifoulant coating, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a mixture comprising particles of a polymer, a marine biocide, and a preservative;
- b) heating said mixture to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of said polymer thereby forming a flowable, mixture comprising said polymer having particles of said biocide and preservative dispersed therein;
- and
- c) applying a variable electric field to said heated mixture to alter the orientation of said polymer and said particles of biocide and preservative relative to each other.
A method of applying a marine antifoulant coating to a surface of a marine vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) injecting a heated blended mixture comprising a polymer, a marine biocide, and a preservative into a plasma stream;
- b) enshrouding said plasma stream and heated blended mixture with a shielding gas to prevent contamination of said heated blended mixture;
- and
- c) directing said plasma stream and said heated blended mixture onto said marine vessel surface, whereby said heated blended mixture becomes adhered to said surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.