International. AkzoNobel has been developing a scale prevention technology that uses ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). The solution, which uses the underlying technology developed by Royal Philips, will be applied to underwater surfaces to remove dirt growth.
With AkzoNobel's state-of-the-art surface protection and adhesion know-how with Royal Philips' capabilities and intellectual property in UV-LED lighting and electronics, both companies are looking to develop an economically viable solution for underwater scale prevention.
The innovation will integrate the UV light-emitting diodes into a protective coating scheme that will allow ultraviolet light to be emitted from the surface of the coating, providing total prevention of the accumulation of biofouling on the surface of the protected area.
The fully biocidal-free solution will provide innovative performance and offer complete scale prevention on the hulls of ships and vessels. Full control of biofouling represents a substantial economic and environmental benefit.
"In our Sustainable Fouling Control initiative, we actively explore and develop alternatives to biocide-based solutions," said Oscar Wezenbeek, Director of AkzoNobel Marine and Protective Coatings. "This development is a great test point for our continued focus on delivering green solutions to our customers."
Despite the complexities of this project, AkzoNobel is confident that they will be overcome and ultimately hopes that the technology will completely revolutionize the scale control industry. Initially, the focus will be on applications for ships, yachts and offshore assets, but the project could be extended to include other surfaces challenged by biofouling issues.
"This unique project is fully aligned with AkzoNobel's continued focus on innovation," explained Klaas Kruithof, Chief Technology Officer of AkzoNobel. "In our quest not only to protect and color, but also to functionalize surfaces, we actively seek complementary technologies and partners with which to innovate. In this case, the combined capabilities and technology of Royal Philips and AkzoNobel will allow us to accelerate the realization of this transformative innovation, which we initially intend to commercialize ourselves and consider licensing to third parties for large-scale adoption."
