Marine fouling is a significant problem in many industries. Since the ban of tributyl tin, a toxic additive prevalent in anti-fouling coatings, various new technologies have emerged to combat this problem. Silicone elastomers are a popular, non-toxic solution to fouling in numerous marine environments. These coatings, however, still incorporate volatile organic compounds (VOC) to aid in application and often require routine maintenance or recoating in approximately 5 years. We set out to develop a zero VOC coating system, based on renewable raw materials, that can provide a green alternative to these solvented silicone elastomers. We have been able to engineer a novel hybrid siloxane system that imparts the low surface energy and anti-fouling characteristics of a silicone elastomer without the use of any volatile organic materials. This coating system provides excellent strength, adhesion, and abrasion resistance and will provide a long term, environmentally friendly solution to marine fouling.

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