Environmental initiatives and global regulations are driving heightened calls for non-toxic anti-fouling paints in the maritime industry – a demand that CRX Coatings looks to meet with its own graphene-based X21 Foul Release hull coating.
Breakthroughs in the evolution of graphene continue to reverberate since the compound’s initial isolation in 2003.
CRX Coatings has introduced a take on graphene-based applications with promising implications for the maritime industry at large - developing its X21 Foul Release Bottom Paint as a green, cost-effective solution for boat sailors.
The company has been able to utilize the inherent strength and durability of graphene (revealed as stronger than diamonds by recent testing) to augment the longevity of anti-fouling paints. Such paints are designed as a coating layer applied to the underside hull of marine crafts - the intent being to prevent the buildup of algae, barnacles, mollusks, and similar organisms.
Yet, traditional anti-fouling coatings have been associated with marine pollution, stemming primarily from their chemical makeup. Many such coatings contain active biocidal substances, with copper named as a prominent concern, explains CRX Coatings. The company notes that paints containing copper and other biocides are subject to frequent scrutiny for their toxicity, jeopardizing aquatic ecosystems by exposing the wider marine environment to harmful chemicals.
The company’s X21 Foul Release Bottom Paint is therefore released to provide commercial and recreational sailors with an eco-friendly alternative to copper-based coatings and other biocidal paints. CRX Coatings positions graphene as the key to safer and longer-lasting hull protection in fresh and saltwater settings, creating a smooth, self-cleaning surface that resists the attachment of marine organisms.
“By preventing fouling, our product reduces the need for harsh chemical anti-fouling treatments - helping to keep our waterways clean and healthy for future generations,” said CRX Coatings.
Certain states have already brought forward regulatory updates prohibiting the usage of anti-fouling paints with copper content exceeding more than 0.5% on recreational crafts. Washington, California, and New York are leading a national movement against such substances, eyeing more extensive restrictions in the coming years. And the US Navy is following suit - with recent legislation initiating a concerted shift away from copper-based anti-fouling measures by 2028.
As such, CRX Coatings’ ongoing development of graphene-based coatings for marine applications comes in time for widespread transitions in the maritime sector. Those who adopt graphene for their vessel maintenance are effectively embracing technology that consumes fewer resources by mitigating the need to continuously reapply protective coatings - helping to protect the environment in turn, stresses the company.
The Knoxville, Tennessee-based group channels its research to improve industry-wide sustainability with high-performance graphene paints for marine vessels. CRX Coatings’ engineering teams point to thermal mitigation, corrosion resistance, and microbe prevention as primary goals as they develop products that harness graphene’s qualities.
More info about the company and its graphene-based solutions is available at https://crxcoatings.com/
