Development of High-Strength Zwitterionic Elastomers Beyond Nonfouling for Marine Applications
Marine biofouling, the undesirable process of organism accumulation and growing on submerged surfaces, has long been a concern in the marine industry. With growing environmental considerations, there is a high demand for non-toxic and environmental-friendly antifouling coatings. Zwitterionic materials have emerged as promising candidates, as they have demonstrated remarkable nonfouling performance by effectively binding water and creating an energy barrier against fouling attachment. In this study, we applied a robust zwitterionic elastomer onto a glass substrate to evaluate its efficacy as a marine antifouling coating. The antifouling (AF) and fouling-release (FR) capabilities of the elastomer were examined through settlement and removal assays involving three model fouling organisms. The high-surface energy material exhibited both excellent AF and FR properties against these fouling organisms, surpassing expectations for a material with both characteristics. These findings highlight the potential of zwitterionic elastomers for marine antifouling applications.