E. Anderson, J. Stieg, R. MacQueen, C. Crane
Mussel Polymers, Inc.,
United States
Keywords: corrosion, coating, mussel-inspired
Summary:
Adhesion to wet and underwater surfaces has been a longstanding challenge. Commercially available coatings and adhesive chemistries often fail to perform adequately in wet environments. Mussel Polymers, Inc. (MPI) has developed a commercially scalable synthetic polymer technology that addresses this challenge. MPI’s proprietary polymers can be integrated into standard adhesive and coating formulations for use in wet environments. This platform approach allows MPI to deliver tailored adhesive and coating products to meet the diverse needs of the DoW. In collaboration with NRL and NAVSEA, MPI has developed two products for use in wet environments: MarineShield™, an underwater-applied corrosion-inhibiting coating for restoring protective coatings on ship hulls and infrastructure, and MarineSecure™, an underwater-applied adhesive for a range of repairs. Currently, assets must be completely dry to apply coatings and adhesives, which is costly and sometimes infeasible. The ability to restore protective coatings and make rapid repairs to waterborne equipment and infrastructure will significantly improve operational availability and asset lifetimes while reducing overall maintenance costs and downtime for both defense and civilian assets.