Eco-Friendly Antifouling Coatings and Paint in Marine Coating Systems

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Corrosion, Wear and Erosion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2025) | Viewed by 176

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Interests: friction and wear control between the cylinder liner and piston ring of a marine diesel engine; triboelectric; anti-friction of surface micro-texture; anti-friction of solid lubricants; super slippery surface; ultra-low friction; drag reduction of superhydrophobic surfaces; surface antifouling; photocatalytic antifouling; micro-arc oxidation treatment technologye drag reduction
School of Environment Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: photocatalysis and electrocatalysis; pollution control microfluidic technology; in situ characterization for environmental catalysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine biofouling is a significant challenge for the shipping industry, affecting fuel efficiency, hull integrity, and the overall performance of vessels. Traditional antifouling coatings have been effective but often contain harmful chemicals that can leach into the marine environment, posing risks to aquatic life and ecosystems. Classic mitigation for ship hulls is based on shelf-stable, broad-spectrum, and usually long-lived biocides. Newer potential mitigation approaches employ short-lived biocides, UV light, larval behavior disruptors, foul-release coatings, and cleaning technologies. However, all mitigation approaches are polluting. The industry is now moving towards more sustainable practices, and eco-friendly antifouling coatings are at the forefront of this shift.

The aim of this Special Issue is to identify timely biofouling challenges, provide mitigation solutions, and identify environmental consequences.

These following topics are all welcomed, but are not limited to:

  • Development and characterization of eco-friendly antifouling coatings;
  • Biocidal-free antifouling strategies and their efficacy;
  • Nanotechnology applications in eco-friendly marine coatings;
  • Environmental impact assessments of traditional vs. eco-friendly coatings;
  • Advances in self-polishing copolymer (SPC) technology;
  • Biological and chemical interactions at the coating-seawater interface;
  • Longevity and performance of eco-friendly coatings in real-world conditions;
  • Regulatory updates and compliance with eco-friendly coating standards;
  • Economic analysis of eco-friendly coatings vs. traditional coatings;
  • Eco-friendly antifouling coatings and paint in marine coating systems.

Dr. Jingguo Fu
Dr. Wei Xiong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biofouling
  • novel materials
  • environmental health
  • novel ecosystems
  • antibiofouling
  • environmental pollution

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

37 pages, 2891 KB  
Review
Strategies for Biofouling Control: A Review from an Environmental Perspective of Innovation and Trends
by Virgínia Rayanne Soares de Souza, Camila Ferreira Alves, Larissa Felix de Lucena, Luana Caroline Costa Silva, Everthon de Albuquerque Xavier, Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Jr., Attilio Converti, Renata Laranjeiras Gouveia and Leonie Asfora Sarubbo
Coatings 2025, 15(10), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15101185 - 9 Oct 2025
Abstract
Biofouling is the colonization and attachment of sessile organisms on submerged surfaces, whether natural or artificial. The presence of these communities compromises the structural integrity, operational efficiency, and durability of coastal structures, resulting in high economic and environmental costs, especially when conventional removal [...] Read more.
Biofouling is the colonization and attachment of sessile organisms on submerged surfaces, whether natural or artificial. The presence of these communities compromises the structural integrity, operational efficiency, and durability of coastal structures, resulting in high economic and environmental costs, especially when conventional removal methods involve the use of toxic biocides. In this context, this article aimed to evaluate the scientific productivity of the literature related to sustainable antifouling strategies, with an emphasis on technologically and environmentally sustainable solutions, through a bibliometric analysis. We analyzed 160 research articles and 90 patents published between 2004 and 2024. It was observed that, since 2019, there has been an increase in publications about biofouling solutions, with a notable emphasis on China’s leadership in both scientific production and patent filings. This topic has also attracted extensive international collaboration. The most promising strategies for controlling marine biofouling involve a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods, integrated with sustainable coatings. The growing demand for low-environmental-impact solutions has driven the development of safer, more effective, and economically viable antifouling technologies. Therefore, the integration of traditional techniques with advances in biotechnology represents a strategic path to mitigating the impacts of biofouling in marine environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Antifouling Coatings and Paint in Marine Coating Systems)
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