Sediment-resistant marine antifouling: Comparative performance of amphiphilic poly(SBMA-co-TFEMA) and anionic poly(SPMA) coatings

초록

Hydration-based, non-biocidal marine antifouling coatings can lose effectiveness when sediment deposition masks the interfacial hydration barrier. Two strategies have emerged to address this challenge: anionic polymers, which electrostatically repel negatively charged sediments while maintaining surface hydration, and amphiphilic copolymers, which combine hydration-based resistance with low-surface-energy fouling-release properties. However, their relative effectiveness under identical sediment-rich marine conditions remains unclear. Herein, we directly compared anionic poly(SPMA) and zwitterionic amphiphilic poly(SBMA-co-TFEMA) coatings. Both polymers were synthesized via RAFT polymerization and immobilized onto Si/SiO2 and stainless steel using a polydopamine primer and Zr(IV)-mediated crosslinking. Both coatings reduced diatom attachment by approximately 90% after 1 day and maintained negligible silt deposition over 7 days. Despite their distinct interfacial mechanisms, both strategies showed comparable resistance to sediment deposition and diatom attachment, providing design guidelines for durable, non-biocidal marine antifouling coatings. © 2026 Korean Chemical Society and Wiley-VCH GmbH.

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