Cavitation erosion and biofouling are the most severe factors of metal materials fatigue failure and degradation in seawater. In a new study, a series of hydrophobic fluorinated polyurethane coatings (SFPU-x) with various contents of fluorinated isocyanate prepolymer (FIP) were synthesised via a simple addition reaction to produce anti-cavitation erosion properties combined with biofouling resistance.
Laboratory testing, especially with the SFPU-5 coating (with 5% FIP) showed excellent antifouling and cavitation erosion resistance abilities due to surface heterogeneity microstructure. Marine field testing for 30 days has also proven the antifouling properties of the SFPU-5 coating. In addition, there were no obvious holes and cracks on the surface of SFPU-5 after 10 h of cavitation.
The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 151, February 2021.
