title: Polysulfobetaine-grafted surfaces as environmentally benign ultralow fouling marine coatings.
abstract: Coatings based on polysulfobetaine polymers are being developed as environmentally benign, fouling-resistant marine coatings. Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA) brushes were grafted onto glass surfaces using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The settlement, growth, and attachment strength of marine algae were investigated on polySBMA-coated surfaces. Results showed that few spores of the green marine alga, Ulva, settled (attached) on the polySMBA surfaces, and the adhesion strength of both spores and sporelings (young plants) was low. Diatoms were also mostly unable to adhere to the polySMBA surfaces. Assays demonstrated that SBMA polymers in solution were not toxic. The data are discussed in terms of the interfacial properties presented by the polySMBA surfaces. Zwitterionic polymers and coatings exhibit great advantages for their effectiveness to resist marine fouling while being environmentally benign and are promising as ultralow fouling marine coatings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: Laifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Callow
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callow
authors.forename: Shaoyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008689:Methacrylates; C521589:sulfobetaine methacrylate polymer