Hou, X.; Sun, W.; Luo, Q.; Zhang, S., Huang, S., 2020. Inhibition of marine biofouling with degradable copolymer. In: Yang, D.F. and Wang, H. (eds.), Recent Advances in Marine Geology and Environmental Oceanography. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 108, pp. 178–182. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Degradable copolymers are promising materials for marine antibiofouling as the resource and environmental problems become more and more serious. Degradable copolymer poly(-caprolactone-co-tert-butyl methacrylate) was synthesized with organic catalyst. The presence of the poly(-caprolactone) entries increases the erosion rates and reduce the swelling of the polymer film in the meantime. Poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) segments enhance the adhesion of the copolymer. Our study indicates that as the ester units in the backbone increase, the degradation rate increases but the swelling decreases in seawater. The degradation is controlled by the polymer composition or the molar ratio of the ester units. Marine field tests demonstrate that the degradable copolymers show good antibiofouling performance.