Anti-fouling properties

The anti-fouling property rejection protein adsorption is primarily based on the hydrophilicity of polymer surfaces, because there exists a characteristic relation between the amount of protein adsorption and the surface-hydrophilicity, as shown in Fig. 2. One of the most proper quantities identifying the hydrophilicity (or hydrophobicity) of a surface is the ylw value. As seen from Fig. 1, Wu,w increases with the increasing ylw or hydrophobicity, but, after passing a maximum, decreases as ylw becomes much higher. 

The anti-fouling properties of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes can be improved by the modification with Ti02 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles of a size of 40 nm, or less, with an anatase crystal structure are prepared by the controlled hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide. 

Electrically neutral and hydrophilic poly-2-hydro qrethylactylates exhibit anti-fouling properties as well. " ... 

A triblock copolymer, Pluronic F-68, (polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide- polyethylene oxide triblock copolymer), a synthetic surfactant [74] was adsorbed to hydrophobic substrata such as PDMS to form low-density polymer brush-coatings [86]. The PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers in many ways exhibit a similar behavior as low molecular weight non-ionic surfactants. The tendency of these amphiphilic polymers to self-assemble in aqueous systems and at interfaces has led to widespread applications for the stabilization of macromolecular colloidal suspensions and for the manipulation of surface properties [92]. Anti-fouling properties of Pluronic copolymers result from the fact that the Pluronic copolymers PPO domain, which... 

F.Q. Nie, Z.K. Xu, P. Ye, J. Wu, P. Seta, Acrylonitrile-based copolymer membranes containing reactive groups Effects of surface-immobilized poly(ethylene glycol)s on anti-fouling properties and blood compatibihty. Polymer, 45 (2004) 399-407. 

The basis for which regulation that will be applicable is that it is up to the producer to decide whether any substances with a biocidal purpose have been added and whether an approval is needed according to the Biocidal Products Directive. In the case when no biocides are added, REACH will regulate the assessment of the chemicals involved and the amount produced will determine the requirements for testing. In the Biocidal Products Directive on the other hand, there is no lower limit i.e. all chemicals added as biocides shall be tested no matter what amount they are produced. The different requirements on documentation in the Biocidal Products Directive compared to in REACH may have the consequence that some chemicals that are toxic or have other unwanted properties, but only produced in lower amounts can be used in certain products without any evaluation. This will be illustrated with the experiments on anti-fouling paints claimed to function by physical means. 

T Sata, Modification of properties of ion exchange membranes. III. Interaction between ion exchange membranes and surface active agents, Colloid Polym. Sci., 1978, 256, 52-67 YD. Grebenyuk, R.D. Chebotareva, S. Peters and V Linkov, Surface modification of anion exchange membranes to enhance anti-fouling characteristics, Desalination, 1998, 115, 313. 

T. Sata, Anti-organic fouling properties of composite membranes prepared from anion exchange membrane and polypyrrole, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1993, 1122. 

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