Study on Biomimetic Antifouling Surface Preparation based on Surface Microstructure of Crabs

Abstract

Biofouling is an extensively studied problem that results in significant economic and environmental loss. Underwater structures such as ships and pipelines will be subjected to the settlement of marine fouling organisms and then suffer from ship fouling after immersed in seawater. Some marine lives maintain their surface cleanliness through the micro structure of their own epidermis, which provides an important inspiration for the construction of microstructure antifouling coatings. In this study, Swimming crab is chosen as the main research object. The surface microstructures of this carb are investigated and measured by digital microscope and scanning electron microscope, which shows a composite scale microstructure on the surface of crabs. Cylinder-based microstructures with different spaces of $4 \mu \mathrm{m}$ and $7 \mu \mathrm{m}$ were formed on silicon wafers through reactive ion etching (RIE), according to actual tests for crabs' surface topography parameters. The antifouling tests of microstructures samples are conducted using phaeodactylum tricornutum. The results show that the microstructures with spaces of $4 \mu \mathrm{m}$ and $7 \mu \mathrm{m}$ has a good antifouling/fouling release performance. Proper design of biomimetic microstructure has a great contribution to antifouling surface.