PPG announced the expansion of its Sigma Sailadvance coating range with PPG SIGMA SAILADVANCE NX coating, a significant breakthrough in antifouling technology.
After ten years of product development, PPG launched Sigma Sailadvance NX, an antifouling coating specifically developed to provide maximum hull protection and vessel performance in line with the requirements arising from International Maritime Organization (IMO) energy-efficiency measures. The coating ensures significant savings in fuel and related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, resulting in lower total operational costs and improved contribution toward global carbon-reduction measures.
The product has been formulated using PPG’s proprietary zinc methacrylate-controlled surface-active polymer (CSP) resin in order to deliver ultra-premium performance with minimal speed loss of 1.0% to 1.5% on average over the operational period as well as improved fuel-saving capabilities and up to 15% CO2 savings.
PPG’s ultra-premium zinc methacrylate CSP resin gives a molecular structure with twice as many reactive sites to promote chemical hydrolysis than other acrylate technologies. This allows hydrolysis to be carefully controlled, resulting in a minimal leached layer and linear polishing that is unaffected by changing seawater temperatures.
Tests and applications with existing customers show no performance loss over the period of operation, with the coating reliably achieving 45 days of idle-time protection.
PPG Sigma Sailadvance NX coating also contains an ultra-strong biocide package that targets a wide range of global fouling growth conditions, from bacterial slime and soft fouling to aggressive animal fouling. Biocide availability is controlled to the level required for maximum and stable protection over the operational period and while stationary.
“In developing PPG Sigma Sailadvance NX coating, our goal was to overcome the major challenges of antifouling technologies with a unique binder that ensures constant biocide availability on the hull surface and protection against broad fouling conditions,” said Ariana Psomas, PPG global segment director, newbuild and dry dock. “The new antifouling technology delivers significant CO2 savings during operation and guaranteed long-term static protection, making it an effective solution to meet emerging industry needs.”
“This unique combination results in unrivaled performance and CO2 reduction benefits for our customers,” said Psomas. “Thanks to the combination of its three unique levers, PPG Sigma Sailadvance NX coating far exceeds the performance delivered by products that are based on other acrylate technologies.”
