Abstract
In order to clarify the antifouling performance and hydrolysis mechanism of organotin polymers, seven copolymers involving tributyltin methacrylate (TBTMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) have been synthesized with variable TBTMA content of 6-52 mol%. The structure of the organotin polymers was investigated by the analysis of tin, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The leaching rates (L. R.) of tributyltin (TBT) from the organotin polymer films into seawater were determined by gas chromatography equipped with an electron-capture detector (ECD-GC), so that the leaching rate of TBT increased remarkably from more than 25 mol% of TBTMA content in copolymer due to steric hindrance of TBT. The antifouling performance of the prepared copolymers was tested at Hiroshima Bay. Tributyltin methacrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymers with TBTMA content of 28.6 mol% exhibited the highest antifouling potential for more than 24 months.
