Comparative analysis of two isocyanate-free urethane-based gels for antifouling applications

摘要

Amphiphilic gels consisting of acrylamide (AAM)/2-hy-droxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), hexafluorobutyl methacry-late (HFBMA) and non-isocyanate urethane dimethacrylate (NIUDMA) of varying molecular weights were compared. A three-level Taguchi analysis was performed using the amount of AAM/HEMA, HFBMA, NIUDMA and reaction time as depen- dent variables to determine the optimal formulation of the gels with maximized toughness and elastic modulus. The results were compared with commercial AF/FR Intersleek® coatings (IS 700, IS 900 and IS 1100SR) for their antifouling performance against a marine microalga (Navicula incerta), a marine bacterium (Cel-lulophaga lytica) and adult barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite). The toughness, elastic modulus and strain at break of the optimized AAM gels ranged from 3 to7 MPa, 25 to 72 MPa and 80% to 170%, respectively, whereas those of the optimized HEMA gels ranged from 1 to 3 MPa, 13 to 23 MPa and 76% to 160%, respectively. The gels, particularly AHN(E9) and HHN(E12), showed reductions of attachment compared with IS700 of up to 93% and 58%, respectively.