Ecofriendly shell for faster ships

In shipping and in industries such as offshore wind turbines and aquaculture, fouling by marine organisms such as algae, mussels and bacteria remains a major challenge. So-called anti-fouling coatings are used to counteract this in order to reduce weight and fuel consumption. Most antifouling strategies currently rely primarily on the use of environmentally harmful additives – so-called biocides.

With the product AEROSIL^® VP 4200, the Coating Additives business line is now introducing a new type of silica for anti-fouling coatings: "VP 4200 is a structurally modified silica with free hydroxyl groups," explains Max Morin, head of the Industrial & Transportation market segment. "Thus, we enable the use of more environmentally friendly anti-fouling coatings containing copper oxide."

Together with copper(I) oxide (Cu2O), the new VP 4200 silica forms a chemical complex, resulting in controlled release of the biocide from anti-fouling coatings. The new formulation contains less copper(I) oxide overall than the standard type. Nevertheless, the same performance is achieved with the modified formulation.

The new silica VP 4200 is also characterized by a relatively low thickening effect, and so larger solids contents can easily be realized in the respective systems, especially in combination with TEGO^® Dispers 1010.

VP 4200 belongs to Evonik’s product line of silica-based AEROSIL^® types. You will find regulatory, technical and safety data sheets on the websites of Evonik's Coating Additives business line.

Evonik Coating Additives