TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF SPRAY APPLICATION OF Si-BASED FOUL RELEASE COATINGS IN NEW SHIPBUILDING YARD

摘要

Recently, demands for full or local application of a Si-based, non-stick type Foul Release (FR) coating for commercial tankers increased emphasizing FR coating’s contribution to ship’s fuel efficiency. Coating application of the new FR coating in new shipbuilding dock, however, proposes several, formidable challenges to be overcome due to the unique characteristics of the coating materials. Most ship yards have yet to figure out how to apply these new breed of coatings successfully. In this study, technical guidelines to improve spray coating application - both airless and air assisted airless spray - are proposed based on actual ship yard experiences. A new method for measuring the cured coating’s adhesion strength for the “non-sticking” surface was also proposed. Other technical issues, such as repair coating of local, mechanical damage, spray dust, fish eye, spray tail phenomena in low temperature regime, were also discussed.