Rapid deposition of marine-grade protective coatings, enabled by photothermal curing

Paints and coatings act as the first line of defense for protecting and preserving naval vessels, vehicles, and any other surfaces s,ubjected to undersea conditions. Seawater is corrosive and degrades surface coatings, which subsequently require frequent maintenanc,e and refurbishment. Due to long cure times of these coatings, repair often cannot be done in theater, severely reducing the time ve,hicle or ships operational endurance. Additionally, seawater contains creatures and organisms, such as barnacles and algae, that pro,duce biological fouling to external surfaces. Due to their toxicity, copper and tin-based antifouling coatings have been banned or h,ave highly restricted use cases, requiring replacement of these components with environmentally friendly agents. Improving the durab,ility, longevity, and antifouling capabilities of surface coatings continues to be a critical research area supporting the United St,ates Navy (USN). --An important component of this research is to produce quick-curing, easily applied, and antifouling coatings that, can reduce costs overall and improve fleet readiness. The lab mentor will be from the Applied Research Lab and the academic advisor, from the department of chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University.