Use of silicone resins and fluids to retard marine life buildup on submerged surfaces

Claim 2

In a method for preventing or reducing the marine life buildup on a submerged surface by applying an antifouling coating to the surface, the improvement which comprises applying a silicone-containing coating consisting essentially of 5 to 40 wt % of a silicone resin which is a three dimensional, crosslinked, trifunctional siloxane and 60 to 95 wt % of a silicone fluid which is a polymeric difunctional siloxane.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 in which the silicone resin is composed of crosslinked trifunctional molecules having the formula VII ##STR6## where n is an integer and the molar ratio of (CH 3 ) 3 Si/SiO 3 is from 1.2 to 2.2

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 in which the silicone fluid is selected from the group consisting of silicone fluids having the following formulas: ##STR7## where R is a C 1 -C 5 alkyl, vinyl or C 6 aryl, n is from 2 to 1500 and the fluid has a viscosity from 10 to 500,000 mPas; ##STR8## where R 1 is a hydride, halide, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, or an amino functional radical, n is from 20 to 5000 and the fluid has a viscosity from 20 to 1000 mPas; ##STR9## where R 2 is a hydride, halide, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, or haloorganic radical, m is from 1 to 50, n is from 20 to 5000 and the fluid has a viscosity from 20 to 1000 mPas; and [(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO].sub.n V where n is 3 to 8 and the fluid has a viscosity from 2 to 10 mPas.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 in which the silicone fluid has the following formula I: ##STR10## where R is a C 1 -C 5 alkyl, vinyl or C 6 aryl, n is from 2 to 1500 and the fluid has a viscosity from 10 to 500,000 mPas.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 in which the silicone fluid has the following formula I ##STR11## where R is methyl or phenyl, n is from 90 to 800 and the fluid has a viscosity ranging from 10 to 3500 mPas.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 in which the silicone-containing coating consists essentially of 10 to 25 wt % silicone resin and 75 to 90 wt % silicone fluid.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 in which the silicone-containing coating is applied in a carrier solvent.

Claim 9

In a method for preventing or reducing the marine life buildup on a submerged surface by applying an antifouling coating to the surface, the improvement which comprises applying a silicone-containing coating consisting essentially of 5 to 40 wt % silicone resin which is composed of crosslinked trifunctional molecules having the formula VII ##STR12## where n is an integer and the molar ratio of (CH 3 ) 3 Si/SiO 3 is from 1.2 to 2.2, and 60 to 95 wt % silicone fluid which has the following formula I ##STR13## where R is methyl or phenyl, n is from 90 to 800 and the fluid has a viscosity ranging from 10 to 3500 mPas.

Claim 10

In a method for preventing or reducing the marine life buildup on a submerged surface by applying an antifouling coating to the surface, the improvement which comprises applying a silicone-containing coating consisting essentially of 5 to 40 wt % silicone resin which is composed of crosslinked trifunctional molecules having the formula VII ##STR12## where n is an integer and the molar ratio of (CH 3 ) 3 Si/SiO 3 is from 1.2 to 2.2, and 60 to 95 wt % silicone fluid which has the following formula I ##STR13## where R is methyl or phenyl, n is from 90 to 800 and the fluid has a viscosity ranging from 10 to 3500 mPas.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 in which the silicone-containing coating consists essentially of 10 to 25 wt % silicone resin and 75 to 90 wt % silicone fluid.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 in which the silicone-containing coating is applied to a substrate having a polyurethane or epoxy precoating.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 in which the silicone-containing coating is applied in a carrier solvent.

Claim 14

An antifouling coating composition consisting essentially of 5 to 40 wt % siloxane resin having a three dimensional matrix and composed of crosslinked trifunctional molecules having the formula VII ##STR14## where n is an integer and the molar ratio of (CH 3 ) 3 Si/SiO 3 is from 1.2 to 2.2, and 60 to 95 wt % polymeric difunctional silicone fluid interspersed within the resin matrix such that the fluid leaches out over time to provide a liquid laminar layer.

Claim 15

An antifouling coating composition consisting essentially of 5 to 40 wt % siloxane resin having a three dimensional matrix and composed of crosslinked trifunctional molecules having the formula VII ##STR14## where n is an integer and the molar ratio of (CH 3 ) 3 Si/SiO 3 is from 1.2 to 2.2, and 60 to 95 wt % polymeric difunctional silicone fluid interspersed within the resin matrix such that the fluid leaches out over time to provide a liquid laminar layer.

Claim 16

The coating composition of claim 12 in which the silicone fluid has the following formula I ##STR15## where R is methyl or phenyl, n is from 90 to 800 and the fluid has a viscosity ranging from 10 to 3500 mPas.

Claim 17

The coating composition of claim 13 in which R is methyl and viscosity of the fluid is 100 to 1000 mPas.

Claim 18

The coating composition of claim 14 in which the coating consists essentially of 10 to 25 wt % silicone resin and 75 to 90 wt % silicone fluid.

Claim 19

The coating composition of claim 14 in which the coating consists essentially of silicone resin and silicone fluid in a 1 to 6 wt ratio.