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Udvikling og afprøvning af SealCoat som mekanisk antibegroningsmiddel i Danmark

Summary and conclusions

SealCoat is a new product that is proven to be an effective alternative to existing anti fouling coatings on all marine and fresh water surfaces.

The system has been under development since 1991, and in 1999/2000 environmental test of the system as well as practical test on boats, ships and other "wet" objects have been carried out in Danish waters.

The system consist of a layer of epoxy, upon which, Electro statically charged synthetic fibres are blown where they remain upright producing a felt like appearance and feel.

The milieu tests were performed in order to prove the environmental characteristics of the SealCoat layer. Analyses of migration proved, that only Benzylalkohol, out of a number of identified ingredients could be detected in the water in small and decreasing quantities. As a result of that, and the fact, that Benzylalkohol is characterised as having no harmful effect in the water milieu, the SealCoat system can be characterised to not containing biochemical or other products, that is added in order to kill or subdue in any way algae and animals.

The practical tests were carried out to identify the optimal length of fibres for Danish waters. The results indicated, that different sorts of the so called soft fouling, consisting of Seagrass, algae and alike were reported. Quite heavy fouling were observed in the Limfjord while test objects in Svendborg and on Bornholm showed no growth at all.

Of the various lengths tested, the best lengths to be used in the future was identified.

The results obtained during the year has shown that the SealCoat system in general is considered to be a good alternative to more traditional anti fouling coatings. Soft fouling can however develop on the SealCoat surface, especially on slow moving crafts, but this fouling can easily be removed by the use of a brush or by waterjet. 3-4 bar waterjet has normally shown to be sufficient, but tests with 300 bar pressure has not affected the SealCoat surface. Mechanical cleaning with underwater brush is therefor considered to be a useful method.

The results of the tests in Denmark are supported by similar tests carried out in a number of countries, especially those bordering the Northsea. The tests in those waters were in conditions of fouling similar to that experienced in Danish waters.