Nanocomposite of eugenol/polysiloxane/graphene oxide as an efficient anticorrosion and anti-biofouling additive for marine epoxy coatings

Abstract

A novel nanocomposite, Eu-PMHS-GO, was synthesized through a Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) with eugenol (Eu), followed by esterification with graphene oxide (GO). A marine epoxy resin was then modified with Eu-PMHS-GO as a dual-function additive for enhanced anticorrosion and anti-biofouling properties. Our studies demonstrated that Eu-PMHS-GO significantly improved the hydrophobicity and mechanical strength of the epoxy coatings, with optimal performance observed at 0.001 wt% additive loading. The modified coatings exhibited superior anticorrosion performance, maintaining high water repellency and corrosion resistance (R_corr = 2.73 × 10⁸ Ohm) even after 30 days of immersion in seawater. Additionally, the incorporation of Eu-PMHS-GO inhibited the adhesion of marine microorganisms, including the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and two bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis and Synechococcus sp. At low additive loadings (0.001–0.05 wt%), the epoxy coatings showed high anti-algal and anti-bacterial adhesion efficiencies. However, at higher loadings (>0.1 wt%), the performance decreased sharply, which is attributed to increased aggregation of Eu-PMHS-GO in the epoxy coating layer. This comprehensive study not only demonstrates the applicability of Eu-PMHS-GO as an efficient, multifunctional additive in marine coating technology, but contributes a novel approach for addressing the practical limitations of current marine coatings through the development and implementation of high-performance nanocomposite additives.