Biomimetic antifouling coating

Typical antifouling coatings are not biomimetic but are based on synthetic chemical compounds that can have deleterious effects on the environment.

Some properties of a biomimetic antifouling coating can be predicted from the contact angles obtained from the Wenzel equation, and the calculated ERI.

Natural materials such as shark skin continue to provide inspiration for scientists to improve the coatings currently on the market.

A few natural compounds with simpler synthetic routes, such as nicotinamide or 2,5,6-tribromo-1-methylgramine (from Zoobotryon pellucidum), have been incorporated into patented antifouling paints.

The antifouling qualities of the shark skin-inspired designs appear highly dependent upon the engineered roughness index (ERI).

Similar to actual shark skin, the patterned nature of Sharklet AF shows microstructural differences in three dimensions with a corresponding ERI of 9.5.