| Antifoulant Paints - How They Work | | | | uniformity. Because it is a metal-free compound, |
| Antifouling paint forbids aquatic growth such as | | | | ECONEA will not cause galvanic corrosion on |
| barnacles, mussels and sometimes oysters, and plant | | | | aluminum hulls. This rules out the trouble and price of |
| growth from attaching to your trawler. Most antifouling | | | | thick barrier coats. ECONEA-based paints also add |
| paints use the diffusion of metallic elements within the | | | | less weight to a yacht when applied at the same film |
| paint to halt these foul critters from bonding. Copper | | | | thickness as metal-containing paints. |
| (cuprous oxide) and tributyl tin are 2 metals that have | | | | Antifouling Paint Options |
| proven to be successful as biocides, but tin, banned | | | | Copolymer paints are typically used on slow vessels |
| worldwide on ship hulls in 2009, was so poisonous that | | | | such as trawlers and sailboats and release biocide at |
| it decimated whole marine ecosystems. | | | | a steady controlled rate all through their lives, wearing |
| Copper compounds are now universally accepted, but | | | | away or "ablating" very much like a bar of soap. Paint |
| the price of the copper raw material has risen | | | | wears off faster in high drag areas on the hull and |
| substantially. In addition, high copper concentrations | | | | appendages. These paints work well in high-growth |
| have dissolved in the water in some places in the USA | | | | areas and continue to be efficient after haul-out and |
| placing limitations on the application of copper-based | | | | relaunch. Copolymer paints offer true multi-season |
| paints. | | | | protection, lasting as long as there is an satisfactory |
| Paint producers continue to produce a number of | | | | coating thickness. Because they reveal new biocide |
| different antifouling technologies that tackle these and | | | | until the application is worn completely away, additional |
| other problems. | | | | coats add to their length of service. We advocate a |
| New Paint Products | | | | covering of two coats on each new bottom job. |
| Composite Copper: Exchanges the traditional cuprous | | | | Copolymer paints with anti-slime additives are best for |
| oxide with silica, lowering the copper content by up to | | | | nutrient-rich, heavy fouling areas. |
| 40%. The consequence is a copper based biocide that | | | | Modified epoxy paints are best if you have a fast |
| gives superior protection for your yacht, with a base | | | | planning - hull boat. Contact leaching paint releases the |
| that is made from materials found in the ocean. | | | | biocide at a steadily decreasing rate, leaving the hard |
| Water-Based ablatives: Water substitutes the solvents | | | | coating of the original thickness at season's end. Higher |
| found in traditional bottom paints. Low-odor formula | | | | copper content, rather than the type of paint binder as |
| permits painting inside. Application is trouble free and | | | | with ablative paints, generally means greater effective |
| clean up involves only soap and water. | | | | performance in this paint type. Modified epoxy paints |
| White copper: Clean and white in color, white copper | | | | stick to most surfaces, and can be applied over most |
| (cuprous thiocyanate) necessitates 50% less content | | | | types of paints. On the down side, they lose strength |
| than the dark copper used in conventional antifouling | | | | when the yacht is stored out of water. In addition, after |
| paint. | | | | several applications, the existing paint will begin to build |
| Econea: Paint producers think that, a metal-free biocide | | | | up requiring removal. |
| produced by the pharmaceutical industry, is the future | | | | Dual Biocides |
| of antifouling paint. Advantages include protection at | | | | Paint suppliers often add a second biocide to some |
| low usage levels, they degrade quickly and are | | | | versions of their applications, usually in the final coat, |
| biodegradable. Unlike some metal-based antifouling | | | | using formulas such as Biolux, Irgarol and zinc pyrithione |
| agents, ECONEA can be used to easily develop lighter | | | | and zinc omidine. These additives further limit the |
| and brighter paints, resulting in bright colors with better | | | | growth of algae. |