A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PREVENTION OF MARINE FOULING OF SHIPS' HULLS AND BOTTOMS

摘要

Broadly speaking, the history of marine anti-fouling coatings falls into three time periods. The first was the use of metallic sheathing, mainly copper, and tar and waxes which could date back to the ancient Phoenicians and Egyptians. The next was the invalidation of copper sheathing because of the galvanic effects that occurred with the development of iron hulls, and this was followed by the eventual successful development of anti-fouling paints that could be applied to iron or steel hulls. During this latter period other methods and devices were tried or suggested including radioactive materials, ultrasonic techniques and glass flake and flock-fibre coatings but the tendency was to concentrate on paint-type systems.