Antifoulings

Paint School
1
 What is fouling ?

Fouling is the settlement and growth of marine plants

and animals on man-made structures in the sea

Structure with no antifouling Structure with a good antifouling

Antifouling\ Algae_settling2 Antifouling\ Algae_settling1

Paint School
2
 What is fouling ? (1 of 2)

Fouling is the settlement and growth of

marine plants and animals on man-
made structures in the sea

Paint School
3
 What is fouling ? (2 of 2)

There is an estimated 4 - 5000 fouling species

and these can be classified into:

 Microfouling
– generally referred to as slime, a complex
viscous mixture of bacteria and microscopic
organisms
 Macrofouling
– which includes animals and plants
Paint School
4
 How does fouling happen?

• Free floating or free swimming spores and larvaes

follow the currents, tides and waves.
• They have the opportunity to contact suitable
surface when the time comes.
• Fouling happens when these larvaes or spores
settle and develop into an adult, small at first but
steadily growing.

Paint School
5
 Micro-fouling

Micro photo of Cypris stage of

Diatoms barnacles life cycle

CD 1545 nr. 6
CD 1545 nr. 8

Paint School
6
 Macro-fouling

Hydroids Barnacles

CD 1545 nr. 12 CD 1545 nr. 5

Paint School
7
 What is the
consequence of fouling

On a ship’s hull
Increased fuel consumption
On a marine structure
Increased drag  Heavier load on the structure 
Structural failures
Seawater pipe systems
– Increased corrosion
– Reduced pipe diametres  Pump failures

Paint School
8
 How to protect against fouling

• Outside areas, Ship’s hull and other Marine

structures:
Antifouling Paints

• Seawater pipe systems:

Electrolytic Antifouling systems

Paint School
9
 Why do ships need
anti-fouling systems?

Fouling leads to an increase in fuel consumption

of up to 40%, due to the increase in drag resistance

A clean ship sails faster and with less energy

Fouling will eventually damage the primer system

Paint School
10
 Selection of Antifoulings

• Legislation / Environment
• Type of ship
• Speed
• Trade / Voyage factor
• Dry-docking interval:
– Conventional antifoulings: 1 - 2 years
– TBT-containing antifoulings
(tributyltin): 5 years
– TBT-free, self polishing antifoulings: 3 years

Paint School
11
 Testing of Antifoulings

Field testing:
–Raft testing (Stationary)
–Test areas on ship hulls (In service)
Erosion / Polishing:
–Rotor apparatus
–Test panels on ships
–Test areas on ships hulls

Paint School
12
 Raft for testing of antifoulings

CD 4847 nr. 361

CD 4847 nr. 75

Paint School
13
 Raft testing

• Non- active control

panel after one fouling
season in Norway
• Self polishing AF as a
reference

CD 1118 nr. 40

Paint School
14
 Painting test patches

Paint applied directly to a ships’ hull

CD 0590 nr 83

Paint School
15
 Cross section of paint flake

Epoxy

CD 1118 nr. 44 Antifouling

Primer

Paint School
16
 Magnified paint flake

Several different paint layers visible

Polished
Antifouling Hull of
the ship

CD 4850 nr. 105

Paint School
17
 Side bottom of the vessel at drydokking at
the end of the docking period

The light coloured antifouling has on the majority of

the hull polished through to the darker undercoat

CD 4850 nr. 103

Paint School
18
 Bilge keel testing
on a sailing vessel

CD no. 1243 photo 101

Paint School
19
 Bilge keel testing
on a sailing vessel

CD no. 1243 photo 103

Paint School
20
 Well polished A/F
on flat bottom of ship
• The performance of the A/F is very good
• Most of the first coat (white) and some of the second coat (red) is
still remaining
• Remaining A/F can be calculated into the new A/F to be applied

CD no. 4934 photo 87

Paint School
21
 Hull roughness

Total resistance to movement consist of

 Frictional resistance
 Wave-making resistance
 Wind resistance

For a merchant vessel, frictional resistance

contributes 70 to 90 % of the total

Paint School
22
 Frictional resistance depends on:

• The speed of the ship

• The area of the underwater hull
• The shape of the hull
• The roughness of the hull

Hull roughness is the only one

of these factors which can be
varied to a significant degree

Paint School
23
 Antifoulings and hull economy

Calculation example: Panamax vessel

Antifouling
– 7,000 litres at a cost of $ 40,000 - $ 50,000
 10% saving represents $ 4,000 - $ 5,000
Fuel cost
– 10,000 HP at $ 100 / ton, sailing 250 days a year
 Would save 5% or $ 100,000 in the same period

 20-25 times better return

Paint School
24
 Discoloured antifouling
on ship’s side
• Application has taken place in the evening.
• A/F has been exposed to high humidity and
condensation before proper drying
• Cosmetic failure. A/F will work when submerged

CD no. 4934 photo 77

Paint School
25
 Ship’s bottom.
Docking after a period in service
• The A/F has polished away, revealing the black tar epoxy used as a primer
• Two coats of A/F. The first coat appears white after service. The second
coat applied is still red (Only some spots remaining)
• The ship may have been in service too long or too little A/F has been
applied

CD no. 4934 photo 84

Paint School
26
 Ship’s bow with antifouling
• New painted vessel
• Ready for a new period in service
• Nice paint work, smooth bottom

CD no. 4934 photo 88

Paint School
27
 Double spraying of A/F

• Two applicators applying from one dockarm basket

• Dockarm gives good access

Not always a good

solution:
• One too close to
ships’ side
• One at a correct
distance
• Result: Uneven
film thickness CD no. 4934 photo 53

Paint School
28
 Antifouling challenges

• Main threat on sidebottom is fouling

• Main threat on flatbottom is roughness

Paint School
29
 History.
Development of Antifoulings
Generic type Binder Biocide package
Before 1950 Conventional Rosin Cu 2O

1950 - 1960 Long Life A/F Rosin/vinyl Cu 2O

Rosin/CR

Late -60’s Long Life A/F Rosin/vinyl Cu 2O/TBTO

Rosin/CR

Mid -70’s Selfpolishing TBT-copolymer Cu 2O/TBTO

Low-built
Early 80’s Selfpolishing TBT-copolymer Cu 2O/TBTO
High-built
Mid. 80’s Selfpolishing TBT-copolymer Cu 2O/TBTO
Low tin
Late 80’s Ablative Copolymer Cu 2O/TBTO, Biocides

Early 90’s Selfpolishing Copolymer Cu 2O/Org. Biocides

Paint School
30
 Development of Antifoulings

Influencing factors the past thirty years:

Demands from shipowners for better performance with

economy
Increased emphasis on surface roughness and hull
performance
Increases in fuel oil prices over the period
Technological achievements by many antifouling
manufacturers
The trend to extend periods between dry-dockings
The increasing awareness of environmental issues
Paint School
31
 Main types of antifoulings

1. Conventional Antifouling

2. Long-life Antifouling

3. Selfpolishing Antifouling

Paint School
32
 The composition of Antifoulings

• Binder
• Biocide ?
• Extenders
• Pigments
• Solvents
• Additives

Paint School
33
 Conventional Antifoulings
• Soluble matrix paints
• Rosin as a binder
• Approximately 12 months protection
• Binders dissolves in water and biocide is released
• Often called: Tropic, Super Tropic etc.

NOTE:
Danger of cracking and flaking
Needs to be quickly immersed in water

Paint School
34
 Long-life Antifouling

• Insoluble matrix paints

• Only biocides are released
• Effective protection is up to 24 months
• Leaves weak substrate for subsequent coat
• Sealer coat normally required
• Binder: CR, Vinyl (possible to add small
amount of colophonium)
• Often called Sargasso etc.

Paint School
35
 Long-life Antifouling
Binder:
CR, Vinyl
(Possible to add small amount colophonium)

Biocide:
Cuprous oxide, Organotin etc

Life time
12 - 24 months

Often called:
Sargasso etc.
Paint School
36
 “Long-Life” insoluble matrix A/F
Schematic working mechanism
After application............... ............End of lifetime

Insoluble binder
Cuprous oxide or
tin biocide
Empty matrix of
increasing thickness
formed during service
Releasing rate for Biocides versus time
Release rate
Minimum rate for fouling protection

1 2 3 4 5

Lifetime years

Paint School
37
 Self polishing Antifoulings

• Predictable performance
• Extended dry docking period
• Control of roughness and smoothing
• No “sandwich coatings” problems
• Fouling control due to linear biocide release
• Lifetime directly proportioned with dry film
thickness

Paint School
38
 Selfpolishing Antifouling with TBT

• Introduced in the 1970’s

• Contains chemically bound organotin
• Released by hydrolysis in seawater
• In addition, biocides like cuprous oxide
(Cu2O) and organic boosters are used
• The rest of the copolymer is water soluble
and is worn off, usually by friction
• Reduce hull roughness
• No sealer coat required for recoating

Paint School
39
 Self-polishing Antifouling - Tin free

• Blend of water soluble and water sensitive

binders or hydrolysable binders.
• With respect to performance the early ‘ablative’
antifoulings have been refined close to those
containing tin.
• Not identical to tin based antifouling in
performance yet.

Paint School
40
 Self polishing anti-fouling
Schematic working mechanism
After application............... ............End of lifetime
Antifouling
Seawater
Dissolved
Copolymer
Cuprous oxide
Copolymer
(chemical control
Releasing rate of biocides versus time of dissolution)
Release rate

1 2 3 4 5
Lifetime years

Paint School
41
 How free association and
copolymer anti-foulings work

Conventional A/F Copolymer A/F

Leaching Polishing

Leaching Leaching
rate rate
Time Time

Paint School
42
 Release rate for Anti-foulings
Comparison of release rate of biocide for different A/F-types
Release rate (µg/cm2 / day)

40
Conventional A/F
Minimum release
30
Long life A/F level for
fouling protection
30 Selfpolishing A/F

10

1 2 3 Time, years

Paint School
43
 What is IMO ?

• Specialised Agency of United Nations dealing with

maritime affairs
• Consist of 152 member states
• Main objectives: Maritime safety and prevention of marine
pollution
• Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC)
responsible for co-ordinating IMO activities in the
prevention and control of pollution of the marine
environment from ships.

Paint School
44
 Time-Line - New IMO Regulations

2000 2003 2008

Must Convert to Tin-Free

Possible Removal of existing

TBT Antifoulings

Planning to Convert to Tin-Free

Paint School
45
 Existing fleet

2000 2003 2008

Use of Test Patches to gain knowledge of the new

Tin-Free Technology

Converting vessels in preparation for the new

regulations

Paint School
46
 Existing fleet

2000 2003 2008

Total refurbishment using UHPWJ /

blastcleaning

General Repair using UHPWJ /

blastcleaning for Block Sections

Paint School
47
 Existing fleet

2000 2003 2008

If TBT systems still remain, a total

refurbishment using UHPWJ / blast-
cleaning may be required

Paint School
48
 New buildings

2000 2003 2008

• Option of starting with tin-free system and being

prepared for the new legislation
• Continuing with TBT antifoulings and converting
at the next dry-docking
– Risk of requiring full blast in 2008 at high
cost to remove TBT antifouling and
disposing of waste

Paint School
49
 New buildings

2000 2003 2008

From Now Onwards only tin-free systems

Paint School
50
 New tin-free technology

SeaQuantum - Advanced tin-free anti-fouling

Based on a unique hydrolysing silyl polymer

Meets the draft IMO regulations for 2003 and 2008

Matches tin-containing selfpolishing performance

With performance that exceeds what has gone before

With a track record of success in newbuilding and

drydocking

Paint School
51
 New tin-free technology
Why is hydrolysis so important?
• Because linear polishing rate
assures long term antifouling
property
• Because no skeleton layer means
good adhesion Steel hull
• Because continuous smoothening Newly applied

of the surface ensures good fuel

efficiency
• Because hard film maintains its
good appearance Steel hull
After exposure in the sea

Paint School
52
 Antifouling based on a
hydrating reaction mechanism

• Water sensitive and

water soluble binders
• Non constant erosion
rate
• Builds up a soft leach
layer
• No improvement of
smoothness on hull
Antifouling \ Hydrating1

Paint School
53
 Antifouling based on a
hydrolysis as reaction mechanism

• Chemical reaction
between antifouling and
seawater
• Surface peaks erode
faster
• Improves smoothness of
hull

Antifouling \ Hydrating1

Paint School
54
 Properties of organic tin polymer

Properties of organic silyl-polymer

Organic
1) Selfpolishing
silyl-polymer’s mechanism
efficiency is exactly
by hydrolysis
2) Leaching
the same as organotin
out the anti-fouling
polymer organic tin radical from paint film

C=O C=O
O OH
OH
In seawater
CR
4H9 Silyl
Tin C4R
H9 pH 8.0 - 8.2
Cu2O CR
4H9 Silyl
Tin C4R
H9

CR
4H9 CR
4H9

Paint School
55
 SeaQuantum - Technology

Hydrolysable
- the optimum anti-fouling mechanism

Silyl - a proven non-harmful polymer

Copper
- a key ingredient in the new
tin-free self-polishing technology

Paint School
56
 Jotun’s assortment
Self polishing tin free
Performance range Performance range
up to 60 months up to 36 months
• SeaQuantum Plus • SeaQueen
• SeaQuantum Classic • SeaPrince
• SeaQuantum FB • SeaGuardian
Long life products
• Sargasso
Conventional
• Super Tropic
Paint School
57
 Jotun’s assortment
Tin containing

• Seamate HB 99
• Seamate HB 66
• Seamate SB 33
• Seamate FB 30
• Seamate HB 22
• Seaconomy
• Alusea Classic
• Alusea Turbo

Paint School
58