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Coatings For Zebra/Quagga Mussel Control, 3rd Year Evaluation

Zebra mussels were first introduced in the United States in the 1980’s into the Great Lakes.  The migration of the mussels west prompted the US Bureau of Reclamation to examine technologies that might reduce their impact on water resources infrastructure. Many new materials and coating products have been developed to deter the attachment of mussels to infrastructure with new products being frequently introduced

Product Number: 41212-714-SG
Author: Allen Skaja, David Tordonato
Publication Date: 2012
Industry: Coatings
$0.00
$20.00
$20.00

Zebra mussels were first introduced in the United States in the 1980’s into the Great Lakes.  The migration of the mussels west prompted the US Bureau of Reclamation to examine technologies that might reduce their impact on water resources infrastructure. Many new materials and coating products have been developed to deter the attachment of mussels to infrastructure with new products being frequently introduced.  In 2008, Reclamation’s Materials Research Laboratory initiated a study to evaluate foul release coatings suitable for use on a variety of hydraulic equipment.  Parker Dam, on the Colorado River, was selected as the test site due to the rapid reproduction rates of the quagga mussels.  In this update, results from the 3rd year of research are presented.  The current study includes long term test data from silicone-based coatings as well as new foul release coatings technologies including silicone epoxy hybrid systems, nano-textured coatings, and proprietary polyurethane chemistries.   Force measurements were also conducted to determine the force required to remove mussels from various coated surfaces.  Laboratory tests were conducted in an effort to predict real-world foul release performance.  The silicone foul release coatings show good release properties and are self-cleaning with increased flow rates.  Durable foul release coatings, fluorinated powder coatings, antimicrobial coatings, elastomeric, and low coefficient of friction coatings were evaluated for use for mussel control.  Results are showing several coating systems have lower mussel adhesion strengths than traditional epoxy coatings.

Zebra mussels were first introduced in the United States in the 1980’s into the Great Lakes.  The migration of the mussels west prompted the US Bureau of Reclamation to examine technologies that might reduce their impact on water resources infrastructure. Many new materials and coating products have been developed to deter the attachment of mussels to infrastructure with new products being frequently introduced.  In 2008, Reclamation’s Materials Research Laboratory initiated a study to evaluate foul release coatings suitable for use on a variety of hydraulic equipment.  Parker Dam, on the Colorado River, was selected as the test site due to the rapid reproduction rates of the quagga mussels.  In this update, results from the 3rd year of research are presented.  The current study includes long term test data from silicone-based coatings as well as new foul release coatings technologies including silicone epoxy hybrid systems, nano-textured coatings, and proprietary polyurethane chemistries.   Force measurements were also conducted to determine the force required to remove mussels from various coated surfaces.  Laboratory tests were conducted in an effort to predict real-world foul release performance.  The silicone foul release coatings show good release properties and are self-cleaning with increased flow rates.  Durable foul release coatings, fluorinated powder coatings, antimicrobial coatings, elastomeric, and low coefficient of friction coatings were evaluated for use for mussel control.  Results are showing several coating systems have lower mussel adhesion strengths than traditional epoxy coatings.

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