title: Complex shaped ZnO nano- and microstructure based polymer composites: mechanically stable and environmentally friendly coatings for potential antifouling applications.
abstract: Since the prohibition of tributyltin (TBT)-based antifouling paints in 2008, the development of environmentally compatible and commercially realizable alternatives is a crucial issue. Cost effective fabrication of antifouling paints with desired physical and biocompatible features is simultaneously required and recent developments in the direction of inorganic nanomaterials could play a major role. In the present work, a solvent free polymer/particle-composite coating based on two component polythiourethane (PTU) and tetrapodal shaped ZnO (t-ZnO) nano- and microstructures has been synthesized and studied with respect to mechanical, chemical and biocompatibility properties. Furthermore, antifouling tests have been carried out in artificial seawater tanks. Four different PTU/t-ZnO composites with various t-ZnO filling fractions (0 wt%, 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%) were prepared and the corresponding tensile, hardness, and pull-off test results revealed that the composite filled with 5 wt% t-ZnO exhibits the strongest mechanical properties. Surface free energy (SFE) studies using contact angle measurements showed that the SFE value decreases with an increase in t-ZnO filler amounts. The influence of t-ZnO on the polymerization reaction was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared-spectroscopy measurements and thermogravimetric analysis. The immersion tests demonstrated that fouling behavior of the PTU/t-ZnO composite with a 1 wt% t-ZnO filler has been decreased in comparison to pure PTU. The composite with a 5 wt% t-ZnO filler showed almost no biofouling.
authors.affiliation: Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany. ih@tf.uni-kiel.de ykm@tf.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hölken
authors.affiliation: Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany. ih@tf.uni-kiel.de ykm@tf.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.affiliation: Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany. ih@tf.uni-kiel.de ykm@tf.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Yogendra K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Kiel, Botanischen Garten 1-9, D - 24098 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Stanislav N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gorb
authors.affiliation: Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany. ih@tf.uni-kiel.de ykm@tf.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adelung
authors.affiliation: Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143, Kiel, Germany. ih@tf.uni-kiel.de ykm@tf.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Martina J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Baum