Preparation of waterborne antifouling resin emulsions with self-emulsifying and metal ion coordination functions and its application on marine antifouling coatings

Antifouling coatings are crucial for preventing the attachment of marine organisms to surfaces. Currently, most commercially available antifouling coatings use oil-based solvents as dispersing media, leading to substantial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In contrast, waterborne coatings can effectively mitigate this problem. This study incorporates functional groups with dual hydrophilic and metal-coordinating capabilities into the resin molecular structure. A waterborne acrylic self-polishing resin emulsion was developed using soap-free emulsion polymerization. This self-emulsifying emulsion is expected to undergo coordination interactions with multivalent metal ions in seawater, contributing to improved film integrity and water resistance. The waterborne, self-polishing, antifouling coating formed from this emulsion has a solids content of 70%, shows no agglomeration after three freeze-thaw cycles, and remains stable for six months at room temperature. After the initial stabilization period, the self-polishing rate remained stable at 1.0-2.0 × 10−3 g/cm−2 (7 days, 25°C, 80 rpm, r = 60 cm). After 32 months of exposure under real marine conditions, the coating remained intact without blistering, cracking, or delamination, with only limited fouling observed on the surface. These results demonstrate the coating’s excellent long-term durability and antifouling performance, highlighting its potential for environmentally friendly marine antifouling applications.