Pre-Adsorption of Amphiphilic Polymers on Synthetic Surfaces for Biofouling Retardation

Polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), glass and stainless steel were exposed to aqueous solutions of a series amphiphilic polymers at room temperature, including N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)-based polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polypropylene oxide (PPO)-polyethylene oxide (PEO) block copolymers and PEO. Dynamic contact angle measurements of the material surfaces before and after the treatment indicate that only …