Developing new paints that incorporate biocides

A. Hi, Karthik. It is possible that copper-based "bottom paint" may be outlawed, I guess, but it isn't exactly being 'phased out'. As far as I can see, every single brand and style of bottom paint listed in the Boat U.S. catalog is copper-based and depends upon copper.

It is more than a conundrum to look for an 'environmentally friendly' paint that will kill every form of marine life from algae to zebra mussels--it's an oxymoron. But it sounds like organic biocides, which might stop their killing after a few years, would be better than basic metals like copper which can presumably remain toxic to marine life even decades after they've sloughed off the bottom of the boat and onto the bay floor. On the other hand, though, organotin paints (tributyltin) have been an environmental disaster. Whatever you put in the paint as a biocide should, I would think, completely lose its toxicity after some period, perhaps depending upon the proximity of two different molecules that can be depended upon to break or not remain in proximity after the paint wears off.

You have certainly picked an interesting and important field to do your development work in. Good luck!