Home > News > EU project delves into nanotechnologies to solve age-old problem for marine vessels
October 2nd, 2007
EU project delves into nanotechnologies to solve age-old problem for marine vessels
Abstract:
An EU-funded project is breaking new ground in its bid to develop a coating containing nanoparticles that could deter marine micro-organisms from sticking to the hulls of sea vessels.
When organisms such as bacteria, barnacles and algae stick to the surfaces of ships it is a costly nuisance. The problem has plagued ships as far back as the Phoenician period. According to some estimates, these biofouling organisms mean that ships burn 40% more fuel at an annual cost of more than €5 million for businesses, as well as an incalculable cost to the environment.
In recent times, the problem has been tackled with anti-fouling paints containing biocides. However, some of these biocides, such as copper and organo-tin (TBT), have fallen foul of EU environmental laws, which are becoming increasingly stringent and prohibitive.
Source:
cordis.europa.eu
Bookmark:
Marine/Watercraft
Improving Energy Storage: Neutron Scattering Technique Provides New Data on Adsorption of Ions in Microporous Materials February 28th, 2013
Southampton scientist develops strongest, lightest glass nanofibres in the world January 10th, 2013
Research and Markets: The Global Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Industry 2013 Report: Stage of Development, Global Activity and Market Opportunities December 16th, 2012
mPhase to Release Video of New Product October 25th, 2012
Announcements
How do cold ions slide May 24th, 2013
Heinrich Rohrer dies at 79; a father of nanotechnology: With IBM colleague Gerd Binnig, Rohrer invented the scanning tunneling microscope, which can show individual atoms on a surface and move them around May 23rd, 2013
Gold nanocrystal vibration captured on billion-frames-per-second film May 23rd, 2013
Glowing Plant Releases Maker Kit, Enabling Anyone to Make a Glowing Plant at Home: Glowing Plant seeks funds via crowdfunding and raises almost $400,000 May 23rd, 2013
Environment
Conference Scheduled June 5-7 on Safe Use of Nanotechnology in Environmental Remediation May 23rd, 2013
Bacterial spare parts filter antibiotic residue from groundwater May 22nd, 2013
NIA Public Briefing: Nanotechnology and the Council of Europe May 17th, 2013
Nanoadsorbent Synthesized to Remove Toxic Dyes from Textile Industry Wastewater May 16th, 2013
Energy
IDTechEx launches online Market Intelligence Portal May 23rd, 2013
Innovation could bring flexible solar cells, transistors, displays May 22nd, 2013
Researchers Stitch Defects into the World’s Thinnest Semiconductor May 22nd, 2013
Atomic-Scale Investigations Solve Key Puzzle of LED Efficiency: MIT and Brookhaven Lab scientists use electron microscopy imaging techniques to settle a solid-state controversy and raise new experimental possibilities May 22nd, 2013