Naval assets, large and small, spend months to years at sea exposed to considerable biofouling pressures. Fouled surfaces contribute to increased maintenance costs, create energy penalties due to drag, reduce asset performance and persistence, and can transport invasive species leading to potential port-denial. Both hard and soft foulers compromise surfaces, and some species are becoming tolerant to copper-containing surface treatments. While alternative materials exist, they may not provide sufficient durability or perform adequately for Naval assets with activity profiles that differ from the commercial sector. Prior work in this program has led to the development of first generation, bi-functional, antifouling/fouling release (AF/FR) coatings and the mechanics underlying such materials.
Research Concentration Areas
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Explore fundamental interfacial physical, chemical and biological interactions that govern proliferation and removal of marine foulers attached to Naval assets
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Develop new, durable surface treatments to impart both resistance to fouling and facilitate removal of biofoulers between maintenance intervals
Research Challenges and Opportunities
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Determine the fundamental chemical and mechanical interactions that enable the adhesive tenacity of marine biofoulers
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Exploit the chemical and mechanical vulnerabilities of marine biofoulers to design high performance AF/FR surfaces
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Create durable alternative materials and surface treatments that resist or control fouling
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Develop objective measures of susceptibility, cleanability, and durability of AF/FR surfaces to fouling
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Quantify energy and performance penalties from fouling
How to Submit
For detailed application and submission information for this research topic, please refer to our broad agency announcement (BAA) No. N0001425SB001.
Contracts: All white papers and full proposals for contracts must be submitted through FedConnect; instructions are included in the BAA.
Grants: All white papers for grants must be submitted through FedConnect, and full proposals for grants must be submitted through grants.gov; instructions are included in the BAA.