Functionalized block copolymers allow for systematic control of surface chemistry and structure in environmentally benign antifouling coatings.  Block copolymer structure can be used to control surface chemistry and morphology, mechanical properties, as well as temporal response to environmental conditions.  Dynamic and chemically ambiguous surfaces which resist marine fouling are made by incorporating polar, non-polar, and chemically active components into a block copolymer design.  Block copolymers produced using anionic polymerization can be modified via efficient chemistries such as thiol-ene “click” chemistry to create architecturally diverse materials with a wide range of properties.  As an example, sequence controlled peptide chemistry has been utilized to precisely control chemical structure.  These surfaces limit settlement behavior of a diverse range of marine organisms by employing protein-resistant components such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to deter settlement, low surface-energy materials including siloxanes and fluorooligomers to reduce adhesion strength, and targeted structures such as antioxidants to inhibit both settlement and biological adhesive curing processes by marine organisms.  Surface chemical composition and structure has been investigated <i>ex situ</i> using X-ray spectroscopy techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy.  Additionally, surface chemical rearrangement can be observed in real time using <i>in situ</i> time-resolved bubble contact angle measurements.  Coatings were evaluated as antifouling coatings by studies of settlement and adhesion of marine algae, diatoms, and barnacles, which each have significantly different mechanisms of attachment.  Correlation of this biological response to surface properties and copolymer design allows for rational design of antifouling coatings based on chemical structure.

Ambiguous surfaces: Antifouling and fouling release coatings based on self-assembly

251st National Meeting (2016)

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