A novel marine antifouling coating based on a self-polishing zinc-polyurethane copolymer

A series of novel zinc-polyurethane copolymers, which contained zinc cations in the form of polymeric salt and can be exchanged with the sodium ions in sea water, was prepared. As the ion exchange reaction proceeded, the zinc-polyurethane copolymers became soluble and leached out by the flow of sea water. The self-polishing rates of marine antifouling coatings formulated with the polymers proved to be easily controlled by the amount of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid. Marine field test revealed that zinc-polyurethane antifouling coatings had excellent efficiency in preventing marine biofouling for more than 12 months. These results proved that the zinc-polyurethane copolymers were a good candidate for the preparation of long-efficiency and controllable marine antifouling coatings.