Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC) and Reactive Surfaces have agreed to combine the marine coatings technology of Advanced Polymer Coatings with the surface-modifying additive technology of Reactive Surfaces in order to offer an environmentally benign, bio-based, functional marine coating to the maritime industry. 

This line of marine coatings is designed to meet or exceed efficacy of current marine coatings. The companies are gearing up to take advantage of the rapidly growing, world-wide drive toward non-toxic, low drag underwater vessel surfaces with a goal of increasing “slip” through the water by at least two percent over traditional coatings.

APC is a provider of coatings for marine superstructure and tank coatings, including its ChemLine and MarineLine coatings, and with this venture will expand its lines into marine coatings for submersed surfaces. Reactive Surfaces develops bio-based additives designed to bring long-term, stable functionality to coated surfaces, including its self-degreasing additive DeGreez, self-decontaminating additive OPDtox and antimicrobial additive ProteCoat.

Testing will be accomplished using a number of different bio-based additives in a variety of polymer systems in different marine environments, simulating both stationary structures and underway surfaces, and culminating within twelve months with on-ship testing.

The companies will be taking advantage of one of the most recent advancements in coatings technology that adds significantly to the traditional role of a coatings system—bio-based functionality. Natural biomaterials, such as proteins and peptides, provide an enormous resource of functional additives that are non-persistent in the environment, non-toxic and renewable. By focusing on the unique and specific properties of these biomolecules, bio-based additives are being created which will provide a new and innovative function to marine coatings systems, including “recharge-ability” (changing or renewing functionality, without recoating).