Anti-fouling compositions with a fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer

Abstract

An anti-fouling composition which comprises a cured or cross-linked polymer free of perfluoropolyether moieties and a fluid fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer. Preferably, the fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer comprises a repeating unit of the general formula: —{[CFR—(CFR) m —(O) n ] p —[CFR—O] q }— wherein n is 0 or 1, m is an integer from 0 to 4, R independently is H, F, Cl, Br, or CF 3 , and the ratio q/p is 0-10, and the fluorine-free polymer is an organosiloxane-containing polymer comprising a repeating unit of the general structure —[SiR 1 R 2 —O]—, wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a vinyl group.

1 . An anti-fouling composition which comprises a cured or cross-linked polymer free of perfluoropolyether moieties and a fluid fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer.  
     
     
         2 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer comprises a repeating unit of the general formula:  
       —{[CFR—(CFR) m —(O) n ] p —[CFR—O] q }— 
       wherein n is 0 or 1, m is an integer from 0 to 4, R independently is H, F, Cl, Br, or CF 3 , and the ratio q/p is 0-10.  
     
     
         3 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 2 , wherein R is F or CF 3 .  
     
     
         4 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 2 , wherein the repeating unit is —[CF 2 —CF 2 —CF 2 —O]— and/or —[CF(CF 3 )—CF 2 —O]—.  
     
     
         5 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 2 , wherein the repeating unit has the formula —{[CF 2 —CF 2 —O] p —[CF 2 —O] q }— and the ratio q/p is 1.25-2.0.  
     
     
         6 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 1 , wherein the average-weight molecular weight of the fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer is 400-40,000.  
     
     
         7 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cured or cross-linked polymer is an organosiloxane-containing polymer.  
     
     
         8 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cured or cross-linked polymer comprises a repeating unit of the general structure —[SiR 1 R 2 —O]—, wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a vinyl group.  
     
     
         9 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 8 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently methyl or phenyl.  
     
     
         10 . The anti-fouling composition of  claim 8 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are methyl.  
     
     
         11 . A method for inhibiting fouling of a substrate in an aquatic environment by applying the anti-fouling composition of  claim 1  to the substrate.