Engineered design of self-cleaning and antifouling organosilicon/eugenol-based zinc acrylate resin composite coating by forming semi-interpenetrating polymer networks

The practical application of low surface energy organosilicon in marine antifouling is significantly limited due to its poor ability to eliminate biofoulings. Herein, combining organosilicon with zinc acrylate resin containing eugenol group (EAM-Zn) by means of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs), an innovative self-cleaning and antifouling composite coating was developed (named E x Si y ), which integrates low surface energy and self-polishing. After 35 days of immersion in seawater, the hydrophobic organosilicon of E 1 Si 3 coating impedes the penetration of water molecules into the interior of the coating, resulting in the weight loss rate of EAM-Zn being reduced from 24.99 % to 1.92 %. The surface energy of the E x Si y coating after 7 days of immersion in seawater is decreased to 20 m J/m 2 , achieving self-cleaning under the action of flowing water shear. Antifouling performance tests show that the E 1 Si 1 coating increases the inhibition rate of the original silicone against Escherichia coli from 48.95 % to 77.5 %. The adhesion area of diatoms on the surface of the E x Si y coating is only 2 %, and the removal strength of pseudobarnacles is merely 0.2 MPa. Most significantly, the composite coating demonstrates a remarkable antifouling effect in the Yellow Sea waters of Qingdao. Overall, this research presents a preparation method for enhancing the antifouling performance of organosilicon antifouling coatings, promoting the development of multifunctional and environmentally-friendly marine antifouling coatings.