Nitto’s unique product portfolio centers around one core area of product engineering: the development and manufacture of multi-functional adhesives and advanced coatings.
One of Nitto’s most recent breakthroughs is an innovative anti-fouling solution. Nitto’s MARINGLIDE™ Anti-biofouling Protection Film can be easily applied to an array of surfaces and can effectively prevent the build-up and growth of marine organisms, such as barnacles, for sustained periods of time. The film is biocide-free and eco-friendly.
LAYERED DESIGN
The film consists of four layers: a protective film, an anti-fouling layer, an adhesive layer, and a release liner. Thanks to the self-adhesive layer, use of the film is not hindered by any curing time. It can be easily applied by hand, after which your marine asset or instrument is protected from biofouling. The anti-biofouling layer is pre-coated and gives the film a uniform thickness which has no significant influence on the accuracy of the results gathered by several tested underwater acoustic instruments and provides long-lasting antifouling performance.
The anti-biofouling layer rejects the adhesion of micro-organism proteins without the need for biocide substances. The top protective blue layer is used to guard the special anti-fouling layer from dust, dirt and atmospheric particles, and must be removed before application. After use, the film can be peeled off by hand, meaning there is no need for the use of any high-pressure water cleaning or abrasive brushes.
PROVEN RESULTS
MARINGLIDE™ film has been subjected to rigorous testing, in different parts of the world, and to date has delivered impressive anti-biofouling performance. Figure 1 shows a PVC panel that was partially covered by MARINGLIDE™ film and then left submerged in Japan’s Mikawa Bay for two months.
While barnacles were attracted to the PVC surface, there was zero evidence of biofouling on the area protected by film. MARINGLIDE™ film can be used on a variety of marine instruments, including ADCPs. In testing, in cooperation with Nortek Japan, the film was applied to ADCP transducers which were then subject to ocean waters for four months. Again, the film kept the transducers free of any biofouling and had no impact on the ADCP’s capacity to gather the necessary data.
PICTURE PERFECT PERFORMANCE
Underwater cameras, whether for the aquaculture or marine survey, can also be protected by MARINGLIDE™ film. Underwater cameras typically undergo frequent cleaning to rid them of biofouling, but the use of a protective film eliminates the costs and inefficiencies of such maintenance operations.
Therefore, the team at Nitto ran a series of tests to see if the Anti-biofouling Protection Film could not only prevent the accumulation of marine organisms but also help with clear images. The camera window was covered with the film and the camera was deployed in Tokyo Bay, Japan for three months. As a result, the camera was able to take high-resolution images of the fishes for at least for 45 days without the need for (normally required) maintenance: the film kept the lens clear of biofouling.
For more information, visit: https://www.nitto.com/
This story was originally featured in ON&T Magazine’s January 2021 issue. Click here to read more.
