Rapid Prototyped Biomimetic Antifouling Surfaces for Marine Applications

Fouling-release coatings typically rely on a mechanical shear force (usually generated by movement in the marine environment) to remove bio-matter. This is problematic in situations where the surface of interest will remain in a static state (e.g. marine sensors). Here we investigate the antifouling properties of textured surfaces of regular patterns in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in a static marine environment. Nine PMMA samples were prepared and the effect of hole-size and spacing on marine diatom adhesion was studied. Self-replenishing silicone oil was tested in each textured surface, and impact of oil transfer on diatom settlement was also investigated.