Are silicone foul-release coatings a viable and environmentally sustainable alternative to biocidal antifouling coatings in the Baltic Sea region?
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2022

To combat unwanted fouling on immersed hulls, biocidal antifouling coatings are commonly applied to vessels trafficking the Baltic Sea. Here, the efficacy, environmental sustainability and market barriers of silicone foul-release coatings (FRCs) was assessed for this region to evaluate their viability as replacements for biocidal coatings. Coated panels were exposed statically over a 1 year period at three locations in the Baltic Sea region to assess the long-term performance of a biocide-free FRC and two copper coatings. The FRC was found to perform equally well or significantly better than the copper coatings. Even though most silicone FRCs on the market are biocide-free, a review of the literature regarding toxic effects and the identity and environmental fate of leachables shows that they may not be completely environmentally benign, simply for the lack of biocides. Nonetheless, FRCs are substantially less toxic compared to biocidal antifouling coatings and their use should be promoted.

Foul-release coating

Antifouling performance

Antifouling coating

Sustainable products

Ecotoxicology

Författare

Maria Lagerström

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Maritima studier

Anna-Lisa Wrange

IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet

Dinis Soares Reis de Oliveira

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Maritima studier

Lena Granhag

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Maritima studier

Ann I. Larsson

Göteborgs universitet

Erik Ytreberg

Chalmers, Mekanik och maritima vetenskaper, Maritima studier

Marine Pollution Bulletin

0025-326X (ISSN) 1879-3363 (eISSN)

Vol. 184 114102

Ämneskategorier

Miljöledning

Miljöanalys och bygginformationsteknik

Miljövetenskap

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114102

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2022-09-26