Design guidelines for development of tin-free antifouling self-polishing coatings using simulation

Tributyltin-based self-polishing coatings (TBT-SPC) were very successful in the battle against marine fouling and were extensively used and studied. Recently, TBT-SPC was modeled and the model was compared with experimental observation. Therefore a good understanding of the dominant mechanisms resulting in their performance has been developed. In this study a model based on previous findings is developed and verified and then employed to obtain guidelines for the development of new TBT-free self-polishing coatings. This study uses the model to look at the polishing rate and leached layer thickness in different operational conditions of a ship and discusses the necessary response of the coating based on successful performance of TBT-SPC. Interesting behavior have been observed and explained for the coating in different conditions and the results can be used as design guidelines for development of tin-free antifouling self-polishing coatings.