Method for making a submersible surface with antifouling protection

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a submerged surface, such as the hull of a marine vessel or a submerged grate or conduit, uses particles that are electrically conductive and disposes those particles on the exposed surface. The particles are held in, place by an electrically conductive composite material, such as a conductive gel coat, and a charge distribution layer is used to spread the current through all parts of the conductive outer surface.

1 . A method for making a submersible surface which is resistive to fouling, comprising the steps of:
 providing a layer of electrically conductive composite material; and   disposing a coating of an electrically conductive particulate on a surface of said layer of electrically conductive composite material which is exposed to water when said submersible surface is disposed in a body of water; and   pressing said coating of said electrically conductive particulate into said surface of said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said electrically conductive composite material is an electrically conductive gel coat material.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a mold;   disposing a layer of a temporary holding agent to an inner surface of said mold;   spraying said coating of said electrically conductive particulate onto said layer of said temporary holding agent; and   spraying said layer of electrically conductive composite material on to said coating of said electrically conductive particulate.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said temporary holding agent is a mold release agent.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 disposing a charge distribution layer on to said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said charge distribution layer comprises a carbon fiber mat.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said charge distribution layer comprises a layer of electrically conductive particulates sprayed on to said electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 disposing at least one electrical conductor in electrical communication with said charge distribution layer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said at least one electrical conductor is a strip of carbon fiber.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 attaching a support structure to said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said support structure comprises a layer of fiberglass material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 disposing a layer of insulative composite material between said layer of electrically conductive composite material and said support structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said layer of insulative composite material comprises an electrically nonconductive gel coat.   
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for making a submersible surface which is resistive to fouling, comprising the steps of:
 providing a mold;   disposing a layer of a temporary holding agent to an inner surface of said mold;   spraying a coating of an electrically conductive particulate onto said layer of said temporary holding agent;   spraying a layer of electrically conductive composite material on to said coating of said electrically conductive particulate, said coating of said electrically conductive particulate being disposed on a surface of said layer of electrically conductive composite material which is exposed to water when said submersible surface is disposed in a body of water; and   pressing said coating of said electrically conductive particulate into said surface of said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 disposing a charge distribution layer on to said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 disposing at least one electrical conductor in electrical communication with said charge distribution layer.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 attaching a support structure to said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 disposing a layer of insulative composite material between said layer of electrically conductive composite material and said support structure.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said electrically conductive composite material is an electrically conductive gel coat material and said temporary holding agent is a mold release agent.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said charge distribution layer comprises a carbon fiber mat.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said charge distribution layer comprises a layer of electrically conductive particulates sprayed on to said electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 said at least one electrical conductor is a strip of carbon fiber.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said support structure comprises a layer of fiberglass material.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 said layer of insulative composite material comprises an electrically nonconductive gel coat.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for making a submersible surface which is resistive to fouling, comprising the steps of:
 providing a layer of electrically conductive composite material;   disposing a coating of an electrically conductive particulate on a surface of said layer of electrically conductive composite material which is exposed to water when said submersible surface is disposed in a body of water;   disposing a charge distribution layer in contact with said layer of electrically conductive composite material;   disposing at least one electrical conductor in electrical communication with said charge distribution layer; and   pressing said coating of said electrically conductive particulate into said surface of said layer of electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said electrically conductive composite material is an electrically conductive gel coat material.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said charge distribution layer comprises a carbon fiber mat.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said charge distribution layer comprises a layer of electrically conductive particulates sprayed on to said electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said at least one electrical conductor is a strip of carbon fiber.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 providing a mold;   disposing a layer of a temporary holding agent to an inner surface of said mold;   spraying said coating of said electrically conductive particulate onto said layer of said temporary holding agent; and   spraying said layer of electrically conductive composite material on to said coating of said electrically conductive particulate.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 attaching a support structure to said layer of electrically conductive composite material, said support structure comprising a layer of fiberglass material.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 said temporary holding agent is a mold release agent.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 disposing a layer of insulative composite material between said layer of electrically conductive composite material and said support structure, said layer of insulative composite material comprising an electrically nonconductive gel coat.   
     
     
         39 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said pressing step comprises the step of using a roller to press said coating of said electrically conductive particulate into said surface of said layer of said electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said pressing step comprises the step of using a roller to press said coating of said electrically conductive particulate into said surface of said layer of said electrically conductive composite material.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said pressing step comprises the step of using a roller to press said coating of said electrically conductive particulate into said surface of said layer of said electrically conductive composite material.