International. A new low-friction, biocide-free self-polishing copolymer antifouling technology was developed and presented by Nippon Paint Marine.
Aquaterras – a name derived from the Japanese word for gloss and Latin for water – is a new type of marine coating developed without using biocidal materials or silicone.
"Typically, ships' antifouling paints have contained some form of biocide: copper, tributyltin and co-biocides. But the use of biocides today is strictly controlled by national and international regulations, such as the BPR in the EU," said Nippon Paint Marine director John Drew. And while there are no immediate plans to further regulate the use of approved biocides, we cannot rule out the possibility that the copper in the antifouling will be regulated in the near future."
"Nippon Paint Marine has always sought to develop systems that go beyond regulations. And with Aquaterras, our chemists achieved the impossible: a long-lasting, truly effective and efficient self-cleaning antifouling paint without the use of biocides," he added.
The technology adopts an advanced antifouling mechanism based on antithrombogenic polymers used in the construction of artificial hearts and blood vessels in the medical sector.
Medical polymeric material was designed so that no biological substance or life would adhere or could adhere to the surface in order to prevent the formation of blood clots (thrombosis). The use of technology in marine paints allows the new hydrolysis polymer reaction developed in Nippon Paint to continuously self-polish. It also exposes active microdomain structures to seawater ensuring that Aquaterras provides long-term antifouling performance.
