Release characteristics of reattached barnacles to non-toxic silicone coatings

Abstract

Release mechanisms of barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite or Balanus amphitrite) reattached to platinum-cured silicone coatings were studied as a function of coating thickness (210–770 μm), elastic modulus (0.08–1.3 MPa), and shear rate (2–22 µm s⁻¹). It was found that the shear stress of the reattached, live barnacles necessary to remove from the silicone coatings was controlled by the combined term (E/t)^0.5 of the elastic modulus (E) and thickness (t). As the ratio of the elastic modulus to coating thickness decreased, the barnacles were more readily removed from the silicone coatings, showing a similar release behavior to pseudobarnacles (epoxy glue). The barnacle mean shear stress ranged from 0.017 to 0.055 MPa whereas the pseudobarnacle mean shear stress ranged from 0.022 to 0.095 MPa.

Keywords:

• silicone
• barnacle adhesion
• thickness
• modulus
• shear rate

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the Office of Naval Research for financial support of this research under grant N00014-05-1-0822.