Reproducible superhydrophobic PVC coatings: Investigating the use of plasticizers for early stage biofouling control

Here we show an easy to synthesize superhydrophobic material using a solvent phase–separation process of poly vinyl chloride. It is found that solvents mixed in different ratios increase the dielectric value of the solvent and can be tuned to produce superhydrophobic PVC. The PVC solution is then spin-coated onto glass slides for characterization using scanning electron microscopy. Plasticizers are doped into the 70% (v/v) PVC to determine their overall effects; it is found that plasticizers reduce the water contact angle value. The final coatings were tested in a series of antifouling assays in a marine environment lab study; it is found that the superhydrophobic PVC material reduced marine biofouling.