Anti-corrosion technologies leverage natural and synthetic compounds to protect metals from corrosion, which is a significant concern in various industries, including marine, automotive, and construction. To prevent barnacle growth on boats and ships, anti-fouling paints are commonly applied to the hull to deter marine organisms from attaching.
Introduction
Ships and especially naval assets suffer corrosion, fouling and barnacle adhesion. Barnacles produce ‘super glues’ to adhere onto submarine structures and moving assets viz., submarines & ship hulls. This is because addition of drag on the vessel. Corrosion is due to salinity and barnacles are part of marine ecology. ‘Super glues’ are ‘bio-film’ (larval).
Asian waters are the natural home of barnacles (cyprids; sessile spp.,). Corrosion proceeds via ion mechanics, the saline sea water providing the chloride ions and metallic hulls providing the electron ions = natural inseparable pair. On the other side, the sea is neutral. In such a neutral environment the cyprids to progenate need to house. They swim as submerged swarms (count being in thousands). Cyprids are a millimetre in size. In-swarm phenomena help them reduce and even offset the effects of water currents.
Swarm phenomena by microorganisms in seawater fluid beds assist in cutting through the water bed without any drag. Such swarms are more attracted towards the ion-charged materials (such as the naval\maritime assets) and attach themselves as colonies. Then they secrete a mettalo-protinase chemical which acts as the bio-film. Such bio-films act as the base for extended adhesion. It is secreted individually and incessantly by the colonies of cyprids. The film thickness in micro-meters is again not affected by hydrodynamics induced by the motion of marine vessels.
The combination of the saline sea & biogenic tropical sea assists in excessive corrosion and barnacle adhesion. The twine combination is lethal and inflicts huge losses of money and material in the Naval & Merchant vessel industry. Corrosion & barnacle have thus far defied any solution. Paint means ordinary commercial synthetic enamel paints. Herein below are references to some empirical-preliminary works done in India and now the formulas as to how to (i) make anti-corrosion paint and (ii) a super glue that is currently on the anvil and indicating promise.
Calcium Oxalate was slowly homogenized into commercial synthetic-enamel white paint with admixed with thinner. Two aluminium plates were taken & smeared coated and immersed into a large concrete tanked aquatic water from an irrigation canal (non-sea – the sea was afar). 30 days & 60 days & 90 days. The photo is of the 65th day in dunk state. Tank being built beside the canal with open non-cemented mud bottom. Both plates had variable amounts of Calcium Oxalate. Viewer’s right Top half had 3% w\v, Viewer’s left bottom half had 5% w/v. Economic, abundant in the market, safe for bare hand handling, Formula- CaC₂O₄ or Ca(COO)₂; MW: 128. Photo – Author’s own.
Fig – 2: An aged Tachypleus Gigas, an Indian horseshoe crab, an amphibian; a benthic creature of the pre-Cambrian gene pool. Indicates fresh barnacle colonization. They can grow by an order of 1.5cm in height and remain on the shell forever. Arrow shows fresh barnacle settlement sites on the dorsal side of The (live) Indian Horse Shoe Crab – Odisa shore. Photo Author’s own.
The anti-corrosion effect happens as Calcium Oxalate adsorbs water, becomes excessively slippery; maintains its raphide construction and architecture repels charged ions (+\-) and yet does not disassociate from the metal body onto which it is coated. The raphide architecture bites into the micro pores of the metal and remains hooked while on the exposed side, it pricks the sessile & cyprids (drive-away phenomena) and also subsequently fails bio-film generation by affecting leaks in the sealant rings that the sessile & cyprid’s secretion(s).
Horseshoe crabs suffer the affliction of Barnacles. Barnacles produce ‘Super Glues’ for adhesion & colonisation. The animal can get crushed yet the adhered barnacle does not get up-rooted the adhesion is very fast! It is a biochemical process. Barnacles\sessile spp., are Blue Blood creatures. Blue Blood’s serum {90% v/v component} is Hemocynine (mettaloligand i.e., mettalo-protinase). The following Table gives the author’s derivative idea about a quick fix cement i.e., Super Glue. These formula-based leads are on the anvil. However, there is no patent so far. Hence is open to scholars and all stakeholders.
Starting Material for the Super Glue
| Conditions | Components * | Approx range in % v/v |
| Room Pressure: 2000 hPa | Protein (hydrophilic) ~i | 2 – 4 |
| Moisture: 50% | Long chain phosphor-Lipid ~ii | 05.-1 |
| Ambient Temperature : 15-200C | Mettaloligand ~~iii | 05.-1 |
| Saturated Mineralized, Polarized – H2O ~iv | 0.5-1 | |
| Citrate~ ~v | 0.1-05 | |
| Citrate admixing moments before pouring = best |
Conclusion
The combination of advanced coatings, cathodic protection systems, corrosion inhibitors and antifouling technologies provides a comprehensive approach to managing corrosion and barnacle fouling on ships. By leveraging these innovations, naval operators can enhance the longevity and operational efficiency of their vessels while minimizing maintenance costs associated with corrosion and biofouling challenges. As research continues, new materials and methods will likely emerge, further improving the effectiveness of these protective strategies in maritime environments.
Acknowledgement
To Mr Jhosi (Gujarat) my constant companions; Mr Rama (village Inchudi) HSC-CRAB conservation pond attendant at 1700 ITR rd end and Mr Rama Nath Panda of village Kanharpur (later 2 ITR of range beside) for providing year-long homely camp facilities. To my late wife & Father for support. This work stands on their broad shoulders & goodwill.
Title image courtesy: Indian Navy
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defence Research and Studies
References
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Gohad, N. V. et al. 2014. Synergistic Roles For Lipids And Proteins In The Permanent Adhesive Of Barnacle Larvae. Nat. Communication. 5:4414 doi: 10.1038/ncomms 5414.
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms5414
Bhattacharya, Deepak, 2019. How to make (i) Antifouling paint additive (ii) super glue (100% indigenous), Indian Journal of Natural Sciences, Vol.10, No. 56,Oct-2019. pp.17657-64.
https://www.tnsroindia.org.in/JOURNAL/issue56/ISSUE%2056%20FULL%20TEXT.pdf scroll down to pp. 17657
Bhattacharya, Deepak & S Sahoo, 2022. Odra: Naval and Merchant Vessels(Maritime science heritage: Sanatan Nau vigyan: Select discussions), Maritime Technology and Research, Vol. 4, No. (2) : 253758. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/MTR/article/view/253758/172809
