Increasing the understanding of barnacle settlement on Navy ships
This project seeks to increase understanding of barnacle settlement.
Project leader
Professor Tony Clare
Dates
July 2013 to September 2017
Project staff
Dr Nick Aldred
Sponsors
Office of Naval Research
Description
Fouling-release coatings weaken the adhesion of marine fouling species. They have the potential to self-clean under hydrodynamic shear.
Current commercial coatings do foul, especially in low energy environments. Examples include embayments and docks. This is when ships are static or operating at low speed. This is a particular issue for Navy ships.
This project seeks to increase understanding of barnacle settlement, of the modification of settlement/adhesion by surface properties, and of algal fouling under hydrodynamic conditions.