Nanoscale polymer-based coatings for applications in marine antifouling

Marine biofouling on the surfaces of ship hulls has been an issue of utmost concern since it leads to increased drag and consequent energy and economic losses. Of all the methods utilized for minimizing the effects of such fouling development, polymer-based coatings have emerged in recent years as a promising solution. This chapter outlines several such polymer-based surface modifications to reduce or inhibit foulant attachment, facilitate their easy removal or deactivate the attachment mechanism. Several polymer coatings are categorized into three main categories and are discussed in detail with their drawbacks and current limitations: fouling resistant coatings, fouling release coatings, and fouling degrading coatings. In addition, their drawbacks and current limitations are highlighted. Biomimetic coatings are discussed with special emphasis due to their high antifouling efficiency. The issue of corrosion in the marine environment, which leads to several safety hazards and affects antifouling performance, has also been addressed. Further attention has been given to more recently conducted studies to familiarize the reader with the state of the art of these polymer and polymer composite coatings.