Polydimethyl siloxane coatings with superior antibiofouling efficiency in laboratory and marine conditions

Aim of this investigation was to demonstrate in laboratory and field experiments, the ability of relevantly selected non-ionic surfactant, non-toxic antioxidant and their combinations to reduce sharply marine biofilm development on polysiloxane coatings totally preventing marine macro-fouling on slowly moving and static immersed surfaces. Their superior antifouling properties: reduced to zero mussel and algae adhesion, as well as multispecies macro-fouling, and 6-10 folds reduced marine biofilm, were attributed to a formation of a thin, plane, ""bioactive"" surface layer. Its excellent anti-biofouling action was supposed to be due to the presence of impeding the initial microbial attachment non-ionic surfactant that together with the non-toxic antioxidant inhibits a supposed oxidative cross-linking of secreted exopolymeric substances and later assists the biofilm dispersal.