The latest advancements in marine paints and coatings

Published 15 May 2024

Interest in cutting-edge marine paints and coatings is on the rise. Sustainability is encouraging shipowners to embrace innovation as the maritime industry welcomes the challenge of decarbonizing. The entire sector plays a vital role in addressing the world’s pressing environmental ills, including climate change, pollution, and waste.

Take nanocoatings as an example. The application of nanotechnology produces ultra-thin protective layers for watercraft with enhanced properties, such as adhesion, self-cleaning and scratch resistance. The main selling point of these state-of-the-art marine coatings is less upkeep, simplifying maintenance and promoting longevity. These echo the tenets of the circular economy. Nanocoatings have circularity written all over them, for they use less material, eliminate the need for frequent repairs and extend the service life of marine assets.

Eco-friendly formulations are all the rage. Some companies are phasing out copper from antifouling systems due to its toxicity and threat to aquatic life. One is PPG Industries, which rolled out PPG NEXEON 810 — a copper-free hull coating with photodegradable biocide content. Meanwhile, NCP Coatings is bent on eliminating isocyanates, which remain prominent ingredients in many commercial shipbuilding products.

Glenn Arent — the Director of Defense, Aerospace and Marine Coatings at NCP— says, “NCP Coatings has developed a line of single component non-isocyanate, PBTCF ‘Oxsol-free’ topside coatings.” Officially known as para-chlorobenzotrifluoride, Oxsol is a potential carcinogen.

Regarding environmentally conscious paint applications, PPG Industries swears by electrostatic spraying. Ariana Psomas, PPG’s Global Segment Director of Marine New Building and Drydocking, explains, “When applying the paint with an electrostatic paint gun, the paint droplets are negatively charged. The grounded, positively charged metal surface attracts the negatively charged droplets.”

The result is better transfer efficiency, leading to what the PPG executive describes as “exceptionally even particle distribution and a uniform, smooth film” and “a decrease in overspray and waste.”

Moreover, Psomas notes that “PPG SIGMAGLIDE and PPG NEXEON 810 hull coatings are suitable for electrostatic application, a significant benefit that is not available in conventional antifouling coatings.”

Sustainable coating solutions are more than just bio-based resins, biodegradable additives, and minimal volatile organic compounds. They demonstrate excellent performance in preventing damage commercial and government vessels usually contend with under extreme conditions, reducing the environmental impact of frequent repairs and coating re-application.

Polysiloxane technologies take the longevity of topside coating systems—particularly the nonskid variety—to new heights. NCP’s SiloxoGrip is a case in point. Arent notes, “It has superior weatherability and chemical resistant properties, which extend the deck coatings life three to five times that of conventional epoxy nonskid coatings.”

Once electrostatically applied, PPG SIGMAGLIDE 2390 can generate up to 20% power savings and limit speed loss performance to less than 1%, translating to about 35% greenhouse gas emission reduction. PPG’s HydroReset technology transforms itself into a virtually friction-free, non-stick coating when immersed in water.

In addition, “PPG SIGMAGLIDE 2390 coating delivers consistent long idle protection of up to 150 days with stable, consistent performance of the silicone binder system, which also provides significant return on investment benefits,” according to Psomas.

Smart coatings are adaptive to changes on the high seas and modify their properties accordingly. They have responsive materials or sensors to detect when environmental conditions shift. No marine paint or coating system is immune to the elements, but smart coatings can repair minor damage independently and autonomously.

Various shipbuilders are upgrading their blast and paint facilities at commercial and military yards. In recent years, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Austal USA, and Fincantieri have spent a great deal on modern infrastructure to apply technologically advanced paint and coating systems.

Arent admits that switching from traditional to innovative marine paint and coating systems can be expensive. “There is typically a premium depending on the technology type that can range from 30%-50% or more in some cases,” he says.

The maritime industry has a reputation for being a technological laggard. Considering the current environmental regulatory landscape and the advent of sustainable solutions optimized for performance and longevity, there is more incentive to embrace innovation than ever.

Originally published in Paints and Coatings Magazine.