Anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene compositions and methods of using the same
It has now been surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that a combination of polychlorophenoxyphenol, a silver-containing biocide, and an organopolysiloxane, when added to UHMWPE, renders the UHMWPE resistant to both soft and hard fouling. The polychlorophenoxy phenol is preferably 2.4.4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenylether and the metal-containing biocide is preferably a silver zeolite.
1. An anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (AF-UHMPE) composition comprising:
a mixture of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHWMPE) having number average molecular weight of 1.0×10 6 to 1.0×10 7 Daltons,
a polychlorophenoxyphenol,
an organopolysiloxane, and
a silver-containing biocide.
2. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the silver-containing biocide is a silver-containing zeolite.
3. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 2 , wherein the silver-containing zeolite further includes zinc.
4. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the organosiloxane is a silicone resin.
5. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the polychlorophenoxy phenol is 2.4.4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenylether.
6. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 1 further comprising carbon black.
7. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the organopolysiloxane is provided at 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of the total weight of the AF-UHMWPE composition.
8. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 3 , wherein the silver-zinc zeolite is provided at 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of the total weight of the AF-UHMWPE composition.
9. An anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (AF-UHMWPE) composition comprising:
a mixture of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a number average molecular weight of from 1.0×10 6 to 1.0×10 7 Daltons,
2.4.4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenylether,
a silicone, and
a silver-containing zeolite.
10. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 9 , wherein the silver-containing zeolite further includes zinc.
11. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 9 further comprising carbon black.
12. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 9 , wherein the 2.4.4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenylether is provided in an amount of from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of the total weight of the AF-UHMWPE.
13. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 9 , wherein the silicone resin is provided at 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of the total weight of the AF-UHMWPE composition.
14. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composition of claim 9 , wherein the silver-containing zeolite is provided in an amount of from 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of the total weight of the AF-UHMWPE composition.
15. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (AF-UHMWPE) composition of claim 1 in the form of a body part for use in aqueous applications.
16. The anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (AF-UHMWPE) composition of claim 15 , wherein the body part is a sea-chest.
17. A method of reducing fouling organism accumulation on a surface of a vessel, comprising:
forming the surface from or contacting the surface with an anti-fouling ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (AF-UHMWPE) composition of claim 1 .
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the polychlorophenoxy pheno of the AF-UHMWPE composition surface is 2.4.4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenylether.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the silver-containing biocide of the AF-UHMWPE composition is silver-zinc zeolite.