Fouling release of UV-cured acrylic coatings: Set-up of an in vitro test with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Acrylic coatings were prepared by UV-induced crosslinking of two different diacrylates monomers having the same molecular weight but containing either a polyethyleneoxide chain or an alkylic chain. The fouling behavior of the UV-cured coatings was assessed by a simple set-up, monitoring the growth of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and the adhesion of the film formed by the pigmented yeast. The effect of the monomers, the photoinitiator and the polymers on the microorganismgrowthwas studied. Themonomers partially inhibited the yeast growth, the coatings showed fouling release activity: yeast could grow on both coatings but with different morphology, they detached easily by washing depending on the type of coating. By examining the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the polymers, the fouling release behavior was found mostly dependent on the surface tension and the water uptake of the coatings.