Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • MATERIALS
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • RESOURCES
  • EVENTS
  • DIRECTORIES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • CONTACT
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest News
  • Market Trends & Reports
  • Price Alerts
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
  • Weekly Featured Article
  • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
  • Product News
  • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
  • Additives
  • Resins/Polymers
  • Pigments
  • Equipment
  • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • Adhesives
  • Architectural Coatings
  • FINISHING
  • Industrial Coatings
  • Nanotechnology
  • Powder Coatings
  • Solventborne
  • Special Purpose Coatings
  • Sustainability
  • UV Coatings
  • Waterborne
  • FINISHING
  • Finishing News
  • Finishing Technologies
  • Finishing Equipment
  • Finishing Today
  • RESOURCES
  • Columns
  • Blogs
  • Coatings Supplier Handbook
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • PCI Store
  • Classifieds
  • eBooks
  • Sponsor Insights
  • White Papers
  • COATLE Word Game
  • Columns
  • Ask Joe Powder
  • Did you know?
  • Distribution Dive
  • Focus on Canada
  • Formulating With Mike
  • Innovation Insights
  • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
  • Powder Coating Perspectives
  • Target the Market
  • TiO2 Insider
  • Blogs
  • Editor's Viewpoint
  • Industry Insights
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • COAT-IT! Podcast
  • Videos/PCI TV
  • EVENTS
  • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
  • Paint and Coatings Academy
  • Webinars
  • Calendar of Events
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
  • Buyer's Guide
  • Equipment Directory
  • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
  • Current Issue
  • eMagazine Archive
  • China Issue Archive
  • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to eMagazine
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
      • Finishing Today
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Ask Joe Powder
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Focus on Canada
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • Target the Market
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!
Special Purpose Coatings

New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient

By Dan Isaksson, Catherine Austin, Oliver Weigenand, John Smith
New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient
New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient
New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient
New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient
New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient
New Application Success for Silicone-Epoxy Coatings Containing Bio-Repellent Ingredient
June 1, 2018

The development of two-part epoxy resin coatings that harness antifouling properties is gaining importance as biofouling challenges increase across the global maritime fleet.

Advances made in epoxies - commonly known as ‘hard coatings’ - are increasingly satisfying the need to offer antifouling protection for hard structures in sea water conditions and vessels operating in harsh environments, in ways that satisfy commercial demands as well as applicable environmental standards.

In the wake of the tri-butyl-tin ban, easy-release or ‘foul release’ coatings based on silicone elastomers have been widely used to offer protection against biofouling build-up on ships’ wetted hard surfaces. While proving successful in commercial and military applications where abrasion is often not an issue, these coatings have proved to be too soft for harsh conditions. At the same time, emissions regulations and the need to optimize hull performance to cut fuel bills mean the twice-yearly hull cleaning is now commonplace to reduce the drag caused by fouling.

However, coating systems such as silicone, traditional self-polishing coating (SPC) and other coating types may be damaged each time the hull is cleaned, thus reducing their total service life. An ideal solution would be to develop coatings that offer antifouling protection but that can also survive and function well in abrasive circumstances and in harsh environments.

American paint specialist Wearlon®, part of Plastic Maritime Corp., and I-Tech AB of Sweden have recently been conducting work on the development of an epoxy-silicone coating with antifouling properties through the addition of the unique, bio-repellent active agent Selektope® with one of the Wearlon silicone-epoxy coatings. Trials, carried out over a period of 19 months, indicate that a commercially viable ‘hard’ coating that also offers superior antifouling performance is within reach.

Selektope, chemically known as medetomidine and registered by I-Tech AB (Interphase Technologies), is an organic, nonmetal compound that is usually used in SPC systems. It is very efficient at preventing barnacle fouling when included in marine coating systems used to paint and protect ocean-going vessels, particularly during extended idle times and at elevated water temperatures. Its first-of-its kind mode of action prevents barnacle fouling by temporarily hyper-activating the swimming behaviour of barnacle cyprid larvae, making it impossible for them to settle on a wetted hard surface. It is characterized by high efficacy at extremely low concentrations (0.1-0.3% w/w) and its ultralow leaching offers paint manufacturers the flexibility to boost copper-based paint formulations or replace copper completely.

Whereas silicone-epoxy systems offer abrasion resistance and easy to clean properties, they still have limitations when exposed to sea water at static conditions. The addition of Selektope enables highly innovative coating systems to be developed and, as such Wearlon has trialled the inclusion of Selektope in its Wearlon Super F-3M range to develop an abrasion-resistant coating with boosted antifouling properties. The coating is expected to be particularly effective in areas where high-wear strength is required such as around propellers, and for use on off-shore equipment.

Wearlon Super F-3M is a water-based silicone-epoxy coating. The mole % of silicone to epoxy is varied and coupled with surfactant and filler selection to obtain properties that are unique for a variety of applications. Wearlon Super F-3M is one of the most hydrophobic of all the Wearlon coatings, having a low surface tension when in contact with water, resulting in drag reduction. Because of its excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance it is being used in a variety of marine applications including zebra mussel control.

The trialing of the Wearlon epoxy-silicone product containing Selektope was conducted at I-Tech’s test facility on the west coast of Sweden over a period of 19 months. A successful formulation was achieved through the addition of a 1-metoxy-2-propanol solution of Selektope to component B of the two-component system of Wearlon Super F-3M. Traditionally, when formulating rosin gum-based or acrylic-based antifouling paints, Selektope is always best added to the paint as a solution. To add it to the formulation, it should be dissolved in an appropriate solvent before adding pigments, metal oxides (e.g. ZnO), fillers, binders and other additives. Test panels were coated with two layers of the test product by a roller. For the formulations that underwent panel testing, a concentration of 0.3% Selektope w/w of the final wet paint mixture was used to ensure the steady release of the biocide.

Developing an epoxy coating that was inclusive of Selektope has been key to producing a more impact-resistant, yet flexible and low abrasive epoxy silicone coating system that shows excellent antifouling performance. The trials of the Wearlon Super F-3M range product with Selektope included concluded that the addition of Selektope to the Wearlon epoxy-silicone coating resulted in significantly improved antifouling properties when exposed to raft tests in sea water.

In the future, the partners are convinced that epoxy-silicone coating technology will achieve wider acceptance on ocean going vessels due to Selektope-empowered antifouling performance.

KEYWORDS: Marine Coatings

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Dan Isaksson, I-Tech AB

Catherine Austin, I-Tech AB

Oliver Weigenand, I-Tech AB

John Smith, I-Tech AB

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • PCI-0724-Global10-Feature-1440.png

    2024 Global Top 10: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

    Who ranks on top? PCI’s annual ranking of the top 10...
    Global Top 10 and PCI 25
    By: Courtney Bassett
  • PCI-0724-PCI25-Feature-1440.png

    2024 PCI 25: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

    PCI's annual ranking of the top 25 North American paint...
    Global Top 10 and PCI 25
    By: Courtney Bassett
  • pci1022-Kinaltek-Lead-1170.jpg

    A Novel Pigment Production Technology

    Following an extensive R&D program that demonstrated...
    Paint and Coating Pigments
    By: Jawad Haidar and Nitin Soni
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

The Coatings Minute: Your Inside Look at PCInnovations

The Coatings Minute: Your Inside Look at PCInnovations

The Coatings Minute: Print Returns with PCI’s New Showcase Issue

The Coatings Minute: Print Returns with PCI’s New Showcase Issue

The Coatings Minute: Your Guide to the 2025 Coatings Supplier Handbook

The Coatings Minute: Your Guide to the 2025 Coatings Supplier Handbook

CTT Registration Now Open

CTT Registration Now Open

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
    Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

  • paint sprayer in a workshop
    Sponsored byallnex

    Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

Popular Stories

BASF SE Logo

BASF Reportedly Eyes Exit from Coatings

No. 7 BASF Coatings

BASF Comments on Potential Sale of Coatings Business

No. 3 AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel’s $1.4B Divestment Signals Strategy Shift



PCI Buyers Guide

Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

Start your RFP

Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

Find Suppliers

Events

September 3, 2025

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Longest-running laboratory experiment

What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

See More Products
pci  webinar april 2025

PCI CASE EBOOK

Related Articles

  • WACKER Presents New Silicone Resin for Water-Repellent Wood Coatings

    See More
  • New Reactive Silicones

    New Reactive Silicones for Formulating Durable Epoxy-Silicone Hybrids

    See More
  • New Types of Silicone Resin Open Up Wider Fields of Application

    New Types of Silicone Resin Open Up Wider Fields of Application

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Kevin-Biller-PC-BOOK.jpg

    Powder Coatings - Foundation for the Novice Formulator (ebook)

  • intelligent.jpg

    Intelligent Coatings for Corrosion Control 1st Edition

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 23, 2025

    A New Multi-Functional Silicone Emulsion for Durable Exterior Architectural Coatings

    On Demand We will focus on how this functional silicone additive can enhance coating performance over time, without sacrificing other desired properties such as incompatibility, surface blooming and poor dirt pickup that is seen with traditional silicone polymer-based additives.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
      • Finishing Today
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Ask Joe Powder
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Focus on Canada
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • Target the Market
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!