A marine biofilm flow cell for in situ screening marine fouling control coatings using optical coherence tomography

A novel fouling marine flow cell was designed and fitted with a clear plastic lid to allow real-time imaging of biofilms using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Marine biofilms were grown under controlled shear flow on coupons coated with 6 different biocidal antifouling coatings (SPC1, SPC2, SPC3, SPC4, CDP1 and CDP2, AkzoNobel) and one inert coating which contained no biocidal actives (NB-D) for 8 weeks. One set of coupons coated with NB was statically immersed in sea water during the same time period (NB-S). Biofilm removal was assessed by increasing the flow velocity while OCT simultaneously measured the biofilm cross-sectional area ...
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