EP3044266A2

EP3044266A2 - Antifouling additive composition

Info

Publication number: EP3044266A2
Application number: EP14815106.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ay Suleyman; Ay Nuran
Original assignee: Bortek Bor Teknolojilari Ve Mekatronik Sanayi Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Bortek Bor Teknolojilari Ve Mekatronik Sanayi Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2013-09-11
Filing date: 2014-09-10
Publication date: 2016-07-20
Also published as: WO2015038088A3; WO2015038088A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antifouling additive comprising nano-size hexagonal boron nitride, said additive being developed for preventing attachment of various the biofouling organisms encountered in the submerged parts of the steel, fiber and wooden ships, in the structures submerged in the sea/water, in any kind of net including the aquaculture nets, in the floats and in the industrial water systems, and being added to the materials such as paints, varnishes, thin films, etc., as well as to the applications of the same.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Antifouling Additive Composition

The present invention relates to an antifouling additive comprising nano-size hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) , said additive being developed for preventing attachment of various biofouling organisms encountered in the submerged parts of the steel, fiber and wooden ships, in the structures submerged in the sea/water, in any kind of net including the aquaculture nets, in the floats and in the industrial water systems, and being added to the materials such as paints, varnishes, thin films, etc., as well as to the applications of the same.

The ships navigating the oceans and the seas face the problem of damage resulting from the adherence of the marine organisms on the ship bottom. In addition, the algae and the shellfish adhering in the form of carpet-like layers to the submerged parts of the ships create enormous drag force and,, adverse effects. For example, a vessel without any marine organism adhered on its bottom may cruise at a speed of 10 knots, while a vessel on which a great number of marine organisms adhered may reach a speed of only 5-6 knots. As a result, the engine of a ship having a large amount of adhered marine organisms is exposed more stress and the engine becomes damaged. A ship having- a great number of adhered marine organisms becomes exposed to considerable drag forces during the navigation. Consequently, the negative load imparted on the engine will increase and the fuel consumption will increase in such a ship and the ship itself might become damaged. In order to cope with this problem, the bottom and the sides of the vessels are dyed with a special paint. These paints are generally of the self-abrasion or hydrolysis type. Self-Abrasion Type Paints: These paints are designed in a way to peel off along with the organisms thereon under the influence of the drag force of the ship. Examples of such paints include the organic silicone-containing polymer paints. On the other hand, the adherence of the marine organisms may not be prevented in the recessed portions of the ships made from wood, as it is difficult for the paint to be removed at such locations.

Hydrolysis Type Paints.: These paints, which contain organotin, are dissolved in the sea water and the marine organisms clinging on such paints are also become dissolved along with the paint into the sea water. On the other hand, this paint, due to the hazardous compounds created by chemical reactions between the paint and aluminium is not able to be used in the aluminum ships and it can be painted onto FRP ships. Although these paints are effective in the sea water, they are ineffective in the lake and river waters .

The patent, no. EP 1016695B discloses that the combined use of tourmaline and monazite mineral according to certain proportions prevents the biofouling organisms.

The patent no. US3100718 discloses that a composition comprising a silica core coated with copper borate prevents the biofouling organisms.

The patent no. US4191579 discloses that the antifouling paints comprising an organotin-containing polymer, a component that reacts with sea water and a component that does not react with sea water prevent the biofouling organisms.

The patent no. US4383053 discloses that a paint containing fumaric acid ester polymer has a high antifouling activity for a long period of time.

The peeling of the aforementioned self-abrasion paints and the dissolution of the hydrolysis paints lead to the lifetime of the paints being shortened to 6 months. In the year 2008, the International Maritime Organization demanded the abolishment of the use of the paints that contain the toxic copper oxide and organotin, since they pollute the oceans. US Navy has set the target of reducing the copper oxide content in the paints. Although the paint manufacturers are working on the solutions that would prevent the surface adherence of the marine organisms, that would not pollute the oceans and that would prolong the lifetime of the paints, no effective solution has been able to be found. Through the use, in the submerged parts of the steel, fiber and wooden ships, in the structures submerged in the sea/water, in any kind of net including the aquaculture nets, in the floats and in the industrial water systems, of an additive, which is completely different from the paints mentioned above and which contains the nano-size hexagonal boron nitride, after being mixed with the materials such as a paint, varnish and thin film, etc., said invention prevents the adherence of the biofouling organisms, prolongs the lifetime of the antifouling paint increases the corrosion resistance of the metals and prevents the pollution of the oceans thanks to the non-toxic character. Owing to said invention, the benefits such as the following are obtained:

1. The ability to prepare a composition comprising the nano-size hexagonal boron nitride in order to prevent the biofouling organisms (including but not limited to barnacles, balanus amphitrite, tubeworm, mytilus coruscus and algae, etc.) from adhering to the submerged parts of the steel, fiber and wooden ships, the structures submerged in the sea/water, any kind of net including the. aquaculture nets, the floats and the industrial water systems;

2. The ability to prevent the adherence of the biofouling organisms, increase the corrosion resistance and prolong the lifetime of the paint, by way of mixing the composition thus prepared into the materials such as any paint, varnish and thin film, etc. and applying the same on the submerged surfaces.

According to said invention, a nano-size hBN composition is prepared, which will prevent the adherence of the biofouling organisms. The composition comprising the nano- size hBN may contain more than 90% nano hBN and less than 10% boron oxide.

The particle size D50 of the nano hBN in the composition is less than 500 nanometers, preferably less than 200 nanometers. 1 gram of this composition covers an area of 10 square meters. The nano-size hBN composition is added directly and/or exfoliation at a proportion of maximum 20% to (water-based, inorganic- and organic-based) compatible with the material such as the paint, varnish and thin film, etc., into which the composition is to be added. The nano- size hBN composition, which is added to various solvents, is exfoliated via ultrasonic and microfluidizer methods. The antifouling additives the solvents that contain the exfoliated nano hBN and/or only nano hBN are ^' mixed at various proportions and via methods such as the mechanical method with the material such as any kind of paint (including but not limited to cellulosic, acrylic, epoxy, synthetic, polyester, polyurethane , silicone-based paints, etc.), varnish and thin film, etc. The material such as paint, varnish and thin film, etc. that contain the exfoliated nano-size hBN and/or only nano hBN are applied to the submerged parts of the steel, fiber and wooden ships, the structures submerged in the sea/water-, any kind of net including the aquaculture nets, the floats and the industrial water systems, thereby preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms.

Claims

1- An antifoulinq additive that contains the nano-size hBN preventing the adherence of the .biofoulinq organisms characterized in that it comprises an improved nano hBN composition.

2- An antifouling additive that contains the nano-size hBN preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the composition that comprises the nano hBN contains more than 90% nano hBN and less than 10% boron oxide.

3- An antifouling additive that contains the nano-size hBN preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms, according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises the nano-size hBN with a particle size D50 of less than 500 nanometers, preferably less than 200 nanometers .

4 - An antifouling additive that contains the nano-size hBN preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms, according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that it is added directly and/or via exfoliation at a proportion of maximum 20% to the solvents (water-based, inorganic- and organic-based) compatible with the material such as the paint, varnish and thin film, etc. , into which the composition is to be added. 5- An antifouling additive that contains the ano-size hBN preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms, according to Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that it is exfoliated via ultrasonic and microfluidizer method in various solvents to which it is added. 6- An antifouling additive that contains the nano-size hBN preventing the adherence- of the biofouling organisms, according to Claims 1, 2 , 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the antifouling additives containing the exfoliated nano hBN and/or only nano hBN in various solvents are mixed at various proportions and via methods such as the mechanical method with the material such as any kind of paint (including but not limited to cellulosic, acrylic, epoxy, synthetic, polyester, polyurethane , silicone-based paints, etc.), varnish and thin film, etc.

7 - An antifouling additive that contains the nano-size hBN preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms, according to Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, characterized in that the material such as paint, varnish and thin film, etc. that is mixed with the antifouling additive is applied to the submerged parts of the steel, fiber and wooden ships, the structures submerged in the sea/water, any kind of net including the aquaculture nets, the floats and the industrial water systems, thereby preventing the adherence of the biofouling organisms.