PPG Unveiling SIGMAGLIDE 1290

A 100% silicone binder fouling release system is set to be launched at Posidonia this week.

PPG Unveiling SIGMAGLIDE 1290 Through chemical engineering of the 100% pure silicone binder system at a molecular level, PPG has been able to design the optimal configuration for the silicone coating surface.

This results in an increased silicone density at the surface to such a degree that slime organisms do not recognize it as a surface substrate and have no chance to settle on it.

One of the well-known drawbacks of fouling release technologies is that their effectiveness reduces over time.

This is often seen at the waterline where the impact of sunlight, dirt and UV radiation has a negative effect and leads to the aggregation of slime.

PPG’s R&D team has been able to overcome this problem by engineering SIGMAGLIDE 1290 to include dynamic surface regeneration properties.

These allow water to act as a catalyst to lower the surface energy of the coating back to its original state and thus restart its beneficial surface configuration properties.

As a result, customers will experience no loss in performance and improved stability of the product throughout its lifetime.

The product is suitable for all vessel types and also when long stationary periods are to be considered such as FPSOs. It also brings significant benefits for cruise and ferry operators as well as owners of tankers, bulkers, gas carriers , dredgers and containerships.

As fouling doesn’t adhere  even at lower speed, SIGMAGLIDE 1290 is also beneficial for the offshore industry where assets are static, or for vessels that are slow steaming but still require a high level of fouling protection.

Sijmen Visser, PPG’s Global Marketing Manager Marine said: “Over the last two decades we have received many spontaneous confirmations from customers of fuel savings in values ranging between 3–13% delivered by our SIGMAGLIDE fouling release products.

SIGMAGLIDE 1290 ensures that our customers can now benefit from advanced slime protection and extended fuel savings.”

[mappress]
June 2, 2014