Designing biomimetic antifouling surfaces.
Marine biofouling is the accumulation of biological material on underwater surfaces, which has plagued both commercial and naval fleets. Biomimetic approaches may well provide new insights into designing and developing alternative, non-toxic, surface-active antifouling (AF) technologies. In the marine environment, all submerged surfaces are affected by the attachment of fouling organisms, such as bacteria, diatoms, algae and invertebrates, causing increased hydrodynamic drag, resulting in increased fuel consumption, and decreased speed and operational range. There are also additional expenses of dry-docking, together with increased fuel costs and corrosion, which are all important economic factors that demand the prevention of biofouling. Past solutions to AF have generally used toxic paints or coatings that have had a detrimental effect on marine life worldwide. The prohibited use of these antifoulants has led to the search for biologically inspired AF strategies. This review will explore the natural and biomimetic AF surface strategies for marine systems.
Salta
Maria
M
National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
Wharton
Julian A
JA
Stoodley
Paul
P
Dennington
Simon P
SP
Goodes
Liam R
LR
Werwinski
Stéphane
S
Mart
Ugar
U
Wood
Robert J K
RJ
Stokes
Keith R
KR
D018441:Biofilms; D001681:Biological Assay; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008422:Materials Testing; D012767:Ships; D013499:Surface Properties