Marine compositions bearing preferentially concentrated domains of

Abstract

The present invention is addressed to a curable, marine anti-fouling composition of a thermoplastic or thermosetting binder, solvent, non-tin, organo antifouling agent, and optionally conventional additives, e.g. leaching agents, opacifying pigments, etc. The anti-fouling agents are found in preferentially-concentrated domains (hereinafter, often referred to as 'PCD') in the cured compositions. The PCDs can be termed non-homogeneous, phase-separated, or incompatible in the system. The art term used in describing the PCDs of anti-fouling agent is not limitative of the invention as the disclosure herein will demonstate. Preferably, PCDs are created by forming an oligomeric adduct of the anti-fouling agent which adduct is formed into PCDs upon the curing of the composition. Additional techniques for forming PCDs of anti-fouling agent are revealed herein. The present invention also is addressed to new, low toxicity anti-fouling agents which comprise pesticide or herbicide compounds having a X factor of between about 0.01 and 3, a Z value for vinyl or aromatic compounds of between about 0.01 and 0.08, and an LD50 value of greater than 200 mg/kg against rats or mice. Such pesticide or algicide compounds broadly can be selected from heterocyclic compounds, aromatic compounds substituted with heteroatom substituents, various amino compounds, carbocyclic vinyl ether ketones, certain phospho compounds, certain polychlorinated carbocyclic and acyclic compounds, certain chlorinated carbocyclic carboxylates, antimony tartrate, boric acid, and cupric oleate. Exemplary aromatic compounds include diaromatic compounds linked with a sigma bond or with a carbon or heteroatom linkage, fused aromatic rings, and mono-aromatic compounds.