title: Marine biofouling resistance of polyurethane with biodegradation and hydrolyzation.
abstract: We have prepared polyurethane with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) as the segments of the main chain and poly(triisopropylsilyl acrylate) (PTIPSA) as the side chains by a combination of radical polymerization and a condensation reaction. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation studies show that polyurethane can degrade in the presence of enzyme and the degradation rate decreases with the PTIPSA content. Our studies also demonstrate that polyurethane is able to hydrolyze in artificial seawater and the hydrolysis rate increases as the PTIPSA content increases. Moreover, hydrolysis leads to a hydrophilic surface that is favorable to reduction of the frictional drag under dynamic conditions. Marine field tests reveal that polyurethane has good antifouling ability because polyurethane with a biodegradable PCL main chain and hydrolyzable PTIPSA side chains can form a self-renewal surface. Polyurethane was also used to carry and release a relatively environmentally friendly antifoulant, and the combined system exhibits a much higher antifouling performance even in a static marine environment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wentao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chunfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jielin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tiansheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Guangzhao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; C016240:polycaprolactone