Evaluation of antifouling coatings performance to protect carbon steel against MIC and biofouling in polluted seawater

HERRERA, L. K.; GIUDICE, C. A.; VIDELA, H. A.

Proceedings Corrosion NACE 2006

NACE, National Association Corrosion Engineering

Lugar: Houston, Estados Unidos de América; Año: 2006 p. 1 - 13

The performance of several formulations of antifouling coatings to protect carbon steel from the deleterious effects of MIC and marine biofouling in a tropical harbor seawater was assessed by means of field and laboratory experiments. MIC and biofuling effects are relevant factors in the corrosion of carbon steel due to the high level of pollution of the harbor seawater of Cartagena, Colombia, where this study was performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe microfouling characteristics and corrosion attack. Corrosion products characterization were made by using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The performance of soluble antifouling coatings was evaluated by seawater immersion. Key words: antifouling coatings, carbon steel, polluted seawater, MIC, biofouling.