In this study, we have investigated various tin-free self polishing copolymer (SPC) antifouling (A/F) paints of copper acrylate, silyl acrylate and zinc acrylate compound types to evaluate their applicabilities and physical properties to come up with the coating system(s) having the better quality and workability. The selected tin-free SPC A/F paints are currently used or recommended from major paint makers. In terms of coating film characteristics, drying time, wooden block setting time, hardness at various atmospheric temperatures, as well as dry film surface profile on the actual ship surface were evaluated. We have also measured and compared basic physical properties such as viscosity, volume of solid matter, specific density and so on. Finally, field application properties were evaluated by comparing their sprayability and other standard working conditions in the application by airless sprayer at the atomization pressure. Test results clearly indicated that a certain type of product has yielded far better quality and workability, suggesting that this kind of pre-screening of these rather new coating materials based on the actual field condition is essential to achieve successful coating application for newly built ship hulls.
Keywords: tin-flee SPC MF paint, workability, sprayability, spray condition, atomization pressure