In this work, we report the use of plasticized poly vinylchloride  (PVC) as a thin film coating for the prevention of aqueous biofouling specifically in the initial microfouling stages. The materials contained a series of chloroparaffin-derived plasticizers with fundamental differences in chemical structure. Each plasticizer contained a common ten-carbon backbone with varied chlorine substitution on each molecule. The work demonstrated the series of chloroparaffin plasticizers invoked varied physical properties per plasticized doped PVC film that in turn showed differences in antifouling effectiveness in each of the assays performed. In order to determine the effectiveness of each plasticized thin film, each of the materials underwent a series of analytically designed biofouling laboratory assays: biomass determination, glycocalyx “slime” production, and protein and carbohydrate adsorption, all of which are attributed to microfouling in the overall biofouling process. Topologic and morphologic characterisation was also performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). A  7 d laboratory environmental study was initially carried out, where it was found that the plasticizers containing the greatest chlorine termination demonstrated the highest degree of biofouling prevention and overall biofilm adherence when compared to the unplasticized (uPVC) control. Subsequently, the materials were then deployed into a marine environment for 7 days in Malahide Marina, Dublin, Ireland. Ratios of plasticizer to PVC were also investigated in this study, where it was found that increasing the plasticizer dose, also decreased biofouling adherence. This material represents a cheap, yet effective and overlooked material for application to optically dependent protection for biofouling in its early stages.

biofouling, antifouling materials, PVC, marine.