Importance

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Abstract

A biomimetic system for mitigating marine bio-fouling is disclosed which is based upon the sacrificial skin mechanism found in the pilot whale species. The anti-bio-fouling system is characterized by the continuous in-situ underwater formation of a conformal protective skin around a submerged object or structure and employs a circulatory system embedded in a diffuser layer conformably fitted and secured to the structure to controllably deliver a sacrificial skin-forming material to the structural surface. The system advantageously utilizes the unique chemical properties of the skin-forming material to alter the material's viscosity in response to contact with sea water such that the material is uniformly distributed over the structure surface by a self-diffusion process, notwithstanding structural configuration or gravitational orientation, thus forming a stabilized waterproof layer or sacrificial skin. The sacrificial skin controllably self-dissolves and is shed in response to continuous contact with sea water, thereby carrying away the marine bio-fouling material.

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First Claim