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- Continuation of Field Research on Advanced Coatings for Mussel Control
Continuation of Field Research on Advanced Coatings for Mussel Control
Project ID: 7089
Principal Investigator: Allen Skaja
Research Topic: Repair and Maintenance
Funded Fiscal Years:
2016,
2017 and
2018
Keywords: None
Research Question
The Bureau of Reclamation has been evaluating some experimental coatings under Material
Transfer Agreement(MTA) 12-MTA-8-1003 that show great promise for the future. These
coatings are very unique and have increased durability over the commercially available silicone
foul release coatings. The MTA partner has licensed the technology to a coatings manufacturing
company to commercialize the product. The MTA partner has never applied coatings outside of a
laboratory setting. The coatings group has concerns about the curing process under different
ambient conditions. The coatings manufacture will be conducting experiments under different
application and curing conditions. The best way to determine if the coating still performs is by
conducting field evaluations.
The coatings group would like to extend an offer to conducting the field services as we have
over the past 3 years.
Need and Benefit
Invasive mussels are causing great impacts on the ability to deliver water on schedule. The
coatings group has been proven that foul release coatings (FRC) prevent mussels from attaching
to surfaces. The issue with the silicone FRC is the lack of durability. There is a very promising
experimental coating that is durable and prevents mussel fouling. Since 2012, MTA partner
12-MTA-8-1003, has provide many different formulations for field evaluation. These
formulations have prevented mussels from attaching for 2.5 years at Parker Dam. The MTA
partner has demonstrated that the formulations are reproducible. A coatings manufacture is
trying to commercialize the formulations from the MTA partner.
Contributing Partners
Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.
Research Products
Bureau of Reclamation Review
The following documents were reviewed by experts in fields relating to this project's study and findings. The results were determined to be achieved using valid means.
Continuation of Field Research on Advanced Coatings for Mussel Control (final, PDF, 4.0MB)
By Allen Skaja
Research Product completed on September 30, 2018
Advances in Protecting Submerged Infrastructure from Invasive Mussels (final, PDF, 274KB)
By Allen Skaja
R&D Bulletin completed on September 30, 2019
