AMBIO aims at biocide-free coatings

The EU research project “AMBIO” is investigating how to prevent the build up of organisms on surfaces under marine conditions, for example on ships? hulls. Scientists from BASF are collaborating on this project with 30 partners from business and science from 14 countries. The five-year project was launched in March 2005, and involves a total budget of ?17.9 million, of which ?11.9 million will be provided by the European Union. The goal of the AMBIO project (Advanced Nanostructured Surfaces for the Control of Biofouling) is to use nanostructuring to significantly reduce the adhesion of organisms to surfaces in aquatic environments, and thus control the fouling process without the use of biocides.

Dr. Harald Keller, a scientist in BASF?s polymer research, explains how the AMBIO team aims to control the complex biofouling process: “The nanostructuring of the surface alters the wetting properties and is intended to signal that the site is not suitable for the organisms to settle.” Keller is involved in the synthesis of new, nanostructured polymers that are stable under marine conditions. The polymer physics department, which is responsible for analyzing and visualising the surfaces, characterises the developed coatings and develops new approaches in close cooperation with the synthesis labs.

The position of European companies as global market leaders in the area of antifouling coatings is under threat from the forthcoming EU-wide ban on the organotin compounds currently used as biocides. Although no alternatives to the use of biocides are available at present, developments in nanotechnology mean that the creation of nanostructured surfaces could offer an innovative and environmentally friendly solution to the problem of biofouling.