Electrochemical characteristics of antifouling coated steel structure submerged in Florida natural waters to mitigate micro- and macrofouling

Abstract Recent findings in a Florida bridge indicated that there are synergistic effects of surface fouling to facilitate biocorrosion. Coatings that have anti-microbial, anti-fouling and barrier-characteristics are applied to steel elements in natural waters to mitigate degradation including corrosion and marine fouling. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was utilized to identify the performance of a commercially-available anti-fouling coating exposed in three test sites for ~200 days. The results showed that complete prevention of fouling was not attained. EIS showed impedance dispersion associated with surface heterogeneities indicating the coating degradation and biofilm formation as result of reduced coating biocide efficacy.