Silicone/ZnO nanorod composite coating as a marine antifouling surface

The effects of ZnO nanorod (NR) filler distribution and the nano-structured surface on the superhydrophobicity and fouling-release (FR) of silicone nanocoatings were investigated. Incorporation of 0.5 wt% ZnO NR fillers resulted in increasing the non-wettability characteristics and surface roughness and reducing the surface free energy were observed. Thus, an outstanding superhydrophobic nanocomposite coaling model was fabricated with stable surface properties, surface innerness toward fouling adhesion, economic savings and prolonging longevity for marine applications. A polydimethylsiloxane/ZnO NR composite was prepared via in-situ technique. ZnO NRs were 30-40 nm wide and 0.5-1 mu m long single-crystals with wurtzite structure grown in (0001) direction. Studying the influences of incorporation of different nanofiller concentrations on the surface and FR features was inevitable to achieve surface roughness with minimized free energy. Surface features were considered via water contact angles (WCAs), free energy calculations and atomic force microscopy. Mechanical characteristics were evaluated as a durability factor. Chosen micro-organisms were employed to investigate the nanocomposites FR and biological characteristics. A tough field trial was performed on the nanocomposites which were immersed (for 6 months) in marine water of a tropical region. The most favorable FR properties with maximum WCA (158 degrees) and minimum free energy (11.25 mN/m) were shown for 0.5 wt% NRs as an excellent distributed surface.