Metalizing a boat hull

[Mercury]

OK!... I thank you for responding to my posts and for considering me as newcomer with obvious math and dyslexic problems... I followed up with the manufacturer and applicator of the Stainless steel bottom coat and here in brief is what they say of their materials.

"Using 316L Stainless steel encased in a polymer hybrid binder we can apply a coating to the bottom of GRP hulled vessels to a coating thickness of approx. 7 mil (178 micron). Purpose is to provide a non-toxic alternative to traditional anti-foul coatings while at the same time offering a very, very slick, long lasting (ten years +) protection. The coating is diver proof so no matter the aggressive method for cleaning, the abrasion resistance is that good. The coating is also non conductive of electricity which we think is a plus in the marine environment"

I am intrigued by this product because everything I have seen as an alternate to toxic coatings fail miserably when under test, cracking or delamination with ceramics, and with silicone's no wear resistance. There have been others but invariably they also fail. 316L is a product which I believe will achieve the goal where others fail.

Thanks again for the input most appreciated.

Terry

[MikeJohns]

So why not just use copper powder in a waterbased epoxy matrix and have the benefit of 10yr + antifouling renewed by scrubbing rather than re-coating. The 316 sounds like a very poor option since it will foul quickly.

one commercial provider :

http://www.coppercoat.com/

But I know of home brew successes too. The trick is to get cheap powdered copper the water based epoxies are produced as concrete floor coatings by outfits like Sika.

[Ad Hoc]

MJ

So long as there is no alumnium about!!

[Mercury]

Originally Posted by MikeJohns

So why not just use copper powder in a waterbased epoxy matrix and have the benefit of 10yr + antifouling renewed by scrubbing rather than re-coating. The 316 sounds like a very poor option since it will foul quickly.

one commercial provider :

http://www.coppercoat.com/

But I know of home brew successes too. The trick is to get cheap powdered copper the water based epoxies are produced as concrete floor coatings by outfits like Sika.

Thanks for thoughtful response: You are correct copper would be a good solution and this company supplying the Stainless can perform this as an option, problem being EPA banning of copper in most harbors on the West coast, The Netherlands has already banned copper in their waterways for leisure craft The Sea Grant (tax payer funded) has been seeking alternate coatings for a number of years as places such as San Diego Bay are under pressure to shut down marinas due to extreme levels of cuprous oxide (copper containing paints) some of these measured levels have reached proportion of Super clean-up funding. I have viewed Coppercoat but I am not sure they have EPA approvals for use in the USA?

What experience do you have with the cheap popwder and epoxy, would not the epoxy chalk and breakdown?

Terry

Epoxy cannot chalk!

[Mercury]

Originally Posted by apex1

Epoxy cannot chalk!

Not sure why you believe epoxies cannot chalk as they are commonly know to do. Please refer to http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...537a7ab171eb5d

Nonsense, The paints can chalk, yes, the resin cannot!
Quote
The paints prepared using these resins and cured with amine terminated dimer fatty acid based polyamide (FPA) were evaluated for their weathering characteristics by subjecting them to accelerated and environmental weathering.Quote

[Mercury]

This is the second time you have invoked the word nonsense in what can only be described as some form of need to appear superior. The fact is and has been for many years Epoxies are renown for their chalking and many a company has spent millions overcoming same. Please do not bother yourself further to respond with such unwarranted language, I assumed the forum was for frank and open discussion and not attacks born from an alternate viewpoint.

Thank you.

Terry

Terry that was not really meant to attack you! Sorry for the word nonsense.
Using several tonnes of Epoxy resin per year I can assure you it does not chalk! It is impossible to chalk.
If we are talking paint (including epoxy based paint) chalking is a issue, yes. But your statement was not related with paint, you just said epoxy.

Regards
Richard

[Mercury]

Originally Posted by apex1

Terry that was not really meant to attack you! Sorry for the word nonsense.
Using several tonnes of Epoxy resin per year I can assure you it does not chalk! It is impossible to chalk.
If we are talking paint (including epoxy based paint) chalking is a issue, yes. But your statement was not related with paint, you just said epoxy.

Regards
Richard

Thanks Richard, I knew you were a good guy at heart. It may be true what you say regarding epoxy not chalking but when researching epoxies (without paint or color additive) the manufacturer generally indicates will chalk if exposed to UV. What is it that you know different to these messages?

Terry

Originally Posted by Mercury

Thanks Richard, I knew you were a good guy at heart. It may be true what you say regarding epoxy not chalking but when researching epoxies (without paint or color additive) the manufacturer generally indicates will chalk if exposed to UV. What is it that you know different to these messages?

Terry

Nothing is different.
The resin itself cannot chalk, it deteriorates under UV light, but thats not chalking in technical terms. Of course the same is valid for any epoxy based paint, so they are not widely used by the industry except with a UV protecting coating. The fact that a submerged coating is not under direct UV influence is the next point to make any chalking issue speculative (as long as the hull remains submerged most of the year).
And thanks, I know I´m a good guy, but not by heart, by experience.

Regards
Richard

[MikeJohns]

Originally Posted by Mercury

..........this company supplying the Stainless can perform this as an option, problem being EPA banning of copper in most harbors on the West coast, The Netherlands has already banned copper in their waterways for leisure craft ..........extreme levels of cuprous oxide (copper containing paints) some of these measured levels have reached proportion of Super clean-up funding. I have viewed Coppercoat but I am not sure they have EPA approvals for use in the USA?

What experience do you have with the cheap popwder and epoxy, would not the epoxy chalk and breakdown?

Terry

No the epoxy matrix used in this way does not deteriorate.
Check that copper is banned as that would surprise me, the case is more likely copper oxide which leaches from the binder quite readily and is a toxin. Copper sheeting or copper powder in a matrix is quite different to the oxide. Copper and copper nickel are almost completely inert.

External heat exchangers are usually copper nickel and some boats have been built from this material too, they remain bare metal and resist fouling and don't corrode.

In Holland too I know there are copper bottomed trad wooden boats/ships abd they have no problems there.

[Kurt Sallaz]

Merury-
Have you considered UHMW as a bottom coating? I work with a bondable UHMW that when applied eliminates the need for any anti-fouling coating. An added benefit is increased hull strength. UHMW can be applied to wood, fiberglass, metal and concrete.

[Mercury]

Hello Kurt,

Thanks for your post. I am sorry but I am not sure what UHMW is?

Terry

[gonzo]

E-Paints came out with a new product last year. I haven't tried it, but the claim is that UV breaks it down and produces hydrogen peroxide which kills growth. It then dissipates into water and free oxigen.