Development of anti-fouling and antibacterial SOL-GEL coatings suitable for carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites

Research into solutions to prevent biofilm formation, an important issue for marine technologies, is ongoing. Studies of surface chemistry using nanomaterials have produced promising results. The aim of this study was to develop a stable, silane-based coating composition that can easily be applied to carbon fibre reinforced polymer matrix composite surfaces, which are frequently used in the production of marine technology vehicles. The coating composition should not harm the integrity of the ecosystem and should be a solution proposal within the framework of green chemistry. Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites were produced using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding technique, and their surfaces were coated with silane-based coating solutions containing TiO₂ nanoparticles doped with Sn²⁺ ions to provide antifouling properties. The synthesised particles and the developed coatings were characterised using various techniques, such as X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Contact Angle measurement. In a study testing the antibacterial and antifouling properties of coatings developed using nine different compositions and applied to polymer composite surfaces, it was found that the coating containing 3 mol% Sn-TiO₂ nanoparticles with two different mass ratios exhibited approximately 50% biofilm inhibition compared to uncoated polymer composite surfaces.