Release characteristics of reattached barnacles to non-toxic silicone coatings.
Release mechanisms of barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite or Balanus amphitrite) reattached to platinum-cured silicone coatings were studied as a function of coating thickness (210-770 microm), elastic modulus (0.08-1.3 MPa), and shear rate (2-22 microm s(-1)). It was found that the shear stress of the reattached, live barnacles necessary to remove from the silicone coatings was controlled by the combined term (E/t)(0.5) of the elastic modulus (E) and thickness (t). As the ratio of the elastic modulus to coating thickness decreased, the barnacles were more readily removed from the silicone coatings, showing a similar release behavior to pseudobarnacles (epoxy glue). The barnacle mean shear stress ranged from 0.017 to 0.055 MPa whereas the pseudobarnacle mean shear stress ranged from 0.022 to 0.095 MPa.
Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA. jongsoo.kim@ndsu.edu
Jongsoo
J
Kim
Erin
E
Nyren-Erickson
Shane
S
Stafslien
Justin
J
Daniels
James
J
Bahr
Bret J
BJ
Chisholm
D000818:Animals; D033081:Shear Strength; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D001468:Thoracica / Q000502:physiology*
D012828:Silicones