Novel Hull Coating to Reduce Friction and Fouling

泰雷兹水下系统公司和埃克塞特大学成功合作开展了一项项目，以评估新材料GRAPHENE在提高船舶效率方面的功效。据估计，海洋生物的增长使全球燃料费用增加了5%，并对二氧化碳和二氧化硫的排放产生了不利影响。该项目的目标已经成功实现，目的是在海洋船舶上用疏水石墨烯层取代潜在有毒和对环境不友好的油漆和生物毒素。石墨烯表现出疏水性，这意味着它在与水接触时不会润湿。在水和船体之间的空气层意味着海洋生物和粘液不能附着在船上。摩擦系数显著降低，因为船有效地漂浮在气垫上，有利于速度和燃料经济性。

Thales Underwater Systems and Exeter University have successfully collaborated in a program to evaluate the efficacy of the new material GRAPHENE to improve the efficiency of marine vessels. It is estimated that marine growth increases worldwide fuel bills by as much as 5% with a follow-on adverse effect on carbon and sulphur dioxide emissions. The aims of the project, which have been successfully achieved, were to replace potentially poisonous and environmentally unfriendly antifouling paints and biotoxins with hydrophobic graphene layers on a marine vessel. Graphene exhibits hydrophobicity, which means that it does not wet when in contact with water. The layer of air trapped between the water and the ship's hull means that marine growth and slime cannot adhere to the ship. The coefficient of friction significantly reduces since the vessel is effectively floating on a cushion of air with benefits to speed and fuel economy.