Antislime Coatings; Part I - Primary Marine Fouling

Initial investigations on primary fouling (slime generation) on submerged surfaces and the development of a transparent antifouling coating system for submerged optics are summarized. The chronological succession of bacterial sliming on submerged-glass coupons has been recorded. Pure bacterial cultures isolated from these slimes have been subjected to preliminary identification and their response to several toxic organometallic compounds has been tested. The facile synthesis of various organometallic acrylic monomers suggests their polymers as foremost candidate materials in the search for antifouling underwater optics and coatings.