Innovations
Published: April 10, 2018
Innovations
Published: April 10, 2018

Our Innovation Helps to Protect Marine Life

PPG has been involved in the eSHaRk, a European funded project that aims to develop a self-adhesive biocide-free film and a robotized laminator to apply the fouling release film onto vessels. This environmentally friendly fouling release film should not only protect the ecosystem but also provide fuel savings for vessels.

New advantages

The Science behind eco-friendly technology

The eSHaRk project is a consortium consisting of the world’s leading marine experts and engineers from PPG, Mactac (Avery Denisson), Meyer Werft/ND Coatings, VertiDrive and HSVA (Hamburg Ship Model Basin). These partners are collaborating to produce an automatic application process, which uses an innovative self-adhesive, fouling release foil that can be applied to ocean vessels. This process allows ship-owners and operators to enjoy the superior fouling release properties and drag reduction capabilities of the PPG SIGMAGLIDE® self-adhesive film.

The fouling protection technology is superior to existing paint-based solutions in terms of eco friendliness, easiness of application, robustness and drag reduction effects. This, will lead to fuel savings and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Arjan Lugthart, Project Leader, Protective and Marine Coating

The system incorporates a fine-tuned fouling release system, based on PPG's premium 100 percent silicone binder technology, and a self-adhesive film specially designed by Avery Dennison for underwater use. The adhesive film is a non-toxic fouling release foil, produced by applying a state-of-the-art fouling release coating onto a self-adhesive plastic film.
 

The film will then have an embossed surface to reduce friction. This then reduces drag by up to 10% and when compared with other existing technologies, they only currently reduce drag by 5%. This has allowed PPG and all its partners to deliver an easy to apply fouling release solution that exceeds current fouling technology available on the market.

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