Preparation and properties of polyvinylpyrrolidone-cuprous oxide microcapsule antifouling coating

Traditional copper based antifouling coatings possess the defects of short validity period of antifouling and potential Cu2+ pollution in local seawater. This paper starts with antifouling agent and matrix resin to prevent these drawbacks. Polyvinylpyrrolidone-cuprous oxide (PVP-Cu2O) microcapsules are synthesized via sodium sulfite reduction-single condensation method firstly. The morphology, composition, particle size distribution and embedding rate of PVP-Cu2O are characterized. Then the graft resin of hydrophilic polyurethane/epoxy resin (PU/EP) is prepared via a two-step polymerization method using 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, polyethylene glycol mono methyl ether and epoxy resin as raw materials. Afterwards, the antifouling coating is prepared with PVP-Cu2O as antifouling agent and PU/EP as matrix resin. The dispersion, mechanical properties, release property and antifouling performance of the prepared coating are evaluated. Compared with cuprous oxide antifouling coatings, PVP-Cu2O antifouling coating can improve the dispersion of coating and reduce the release rate of antifouling agent to about 11.5 mu g.cm(-2).d(-1). Moreover, the results of testing antifouling panels in shallow submergence suggest that PVP-Cu2O antifouling coating can achieve the prolongation of antifouling effect.