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Cuprotect Cuprotect™ is not a paint, but is a complete hull protection system utilising copper and copper alloys which effectively inhibit bio-fouling and eliminates the need for toxic antifouling paints. In addition to its unique anti-fouling properties, by forming an impermeable seal between the boat hull and the water, Cuprotect™ protects the hull from degradation caused by osmosis in GRP, rust in steel and rot and marine infestation in wood. Due to its non-conductive properties, Cuprotect™ also offers protection against galvanic action and degradation caused by electrolysis - without the need for sacrificial anodes and provides many years of guaranteed durability with little or virtually no maintenance.
Cuprotect™ utilises the known metallurgical performance of copper and its alloys in an ingenious combination of several bonded layers of material which are very durable, highly effective in preventing fouling and environmentally friendly, as Cuprotect™ contains no organotins, synthetic biocides or volatile organic compounds (VOC's).
The first layer, known as the primer layer, consists of an extremely strong bonding coat of epoxy resin which is readily applied by either roller or spray to the many varieties of substrates that can be treated. This primer layer provides a very stable and durable base for the remaining components of the Cuprotect™ system. The next layer also uses epoxy resin and is known as the binder coat. This layer incorporates carefully chosen thixotropic agents which provide the correct environment to support the final 'exposed' layer of the Cuprotect™ system, while simultaneously forming a very tough and durable bond to the primer layer. The final outer layer consists of granular copper alloy which is bonded into the surface of the binder coat. It is this outer layer that is freely exposed to water, that provides Cuprotect™ with its unique anti-fouling properties.
A LIFETIME SUBMERGED Any structure that is destined to spend all of its life submerged in water needs to be fit for purpose. If the water is pure and free from animal, vegetable and mineral additives and contaminants, then manufacturers of working and pleasure vessels could happily specify a selection of modern materials. The facts are, however, that both fresh and salt-water environments are far from pure and have their own respective characteristics. In fresh water such as canals, navigable rivers and reservoirs, algae and weed tend to become attached to the underside of vessels, particularly if they are relatively static in their applications. In sea-water environments many different varieties of micro organisms exist which, together with molluscs, such as barnacles, form the familiar build-up of fouling. This is observed at its extreme on the permanently submerged pillars of piers where often the original structure cannot be seen for the sheer volume of attached growth. THE ANNUAL SCRUB BECOMES UNNECCESSARY For owners of pleasure craft built in GRP, fibreglass being the popular, practical and economic material from which to construct strong hulls for vessels, the traditional protection against bio-fouling has been the annual application of specialised paints to freshly scrubbed hulls. Regular re-application is necessary because these paints are designed to wear away when in contact with water making the attachment of bio-fouling difficult to sustain. Early versions contained materials toxic to marine life, however legislation in recent years has restricted the ingredients of such paints to less harmful compounds. A more eco-friendly solution with minimal maintenance, eliminating the need for this annual lift-scrub-and-paint procedure, is now commercially available courtesy of a novel innovation from the company Ecosea. Copper sheets were used centuries ago to ‘skin’ some of the earliest wooden naval craft, protecting against bio-fouling and also attack by marine borers. Ecosea have homed in on the exceptional and unique properties of one of its alloys, copper-nickel. At a ratio of 90/10 this alloy displays the optimum resistance to bio-fouling in all water systems, requiring no replacement, usually for the life of the product it protects. In most cases any routine inspection required can be readily performed without lifting. In the case of fibre-glass hulls and other structures, a matrix of small platelets of the alloy are applied to the underwater areas as self-adhesive sheets approximately 30cm x 36cm, each with enough flexibility to be shaped to the substrate, forming a comprehensive and continuous cladding. Flatter areas can accept plain sheets of copper-nickel (see illustration ). Any small gaps between the platelets and sheets are subsequently filled with a grouting epoxy, which is ‘sqweegeed’ over the fine joints and the excess simply wiped off. Cuproguard™ is not only suitable for cladding to GRP, it can be used just as easily and effectively on wood, aluminium and steel, hulls and structures. The performance of the 90/10 alloy as a protective cladding is well established as a result of many years of testing on both pleasure and commercial craft with an amazing success record. Experiments on yachts, ferries, piers and static structures, have shown that bio-fouling control can be simple and effective using copper-nickel. In some cases entire hulls have been constructed in the alloy. The very thin, complex oxide skin that forms when the copper-nickel is submerged gently dissuades attachments in an ecologically compatible manner. After long static exposure a light slime will form, itself containing bio-material. Macro-fouling may occasionally try to colonise too, but will slide off readily, either with natural water movement, or alternatively with a light wipe to clear the surface. Now, with the availability of the product from Ecosea, benefiting from the properties of copper-nickel can be simply achieved via a simple post operation to most new or existing hulls and underwater structures.
The unique patented Cuprotect™ system is applied by approved
installers only, using specialised computer controlled spray equipment,
developed exclusively for Ecosea. This allows application onto compound
curved surfaces, such as boat hulls, and by creating an impermeable
seal, Cuprotect™also drastically reduces the possibility of
osmosis. rust and corrosion. There are many causes of osmosis in boats built in Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP). The main causes are poor workmanship, bad practice, inferior materials and a general disregard or lack of quality control. All materials used in boat building, particularly those used in the hull need to be of the highest quality. All these hull materials are a compromise and all require maintenance, nothing is maintenance free. Wooden hulls can rot and become infested by marine borers. Steel hulls will eventually rust and corrode away. Ferro Cement hulls can and do suffer from internal degradation caused by rusting strengtheners and mesh. But with GRP hulls the major worry is osmosis, although this doesn't normally cause structural problems it's a financial catastrophe. The osmosis defence offered by Cuprotect™ is formidable. The barrier of defence consists of a totally impermeable epoxy resin primer coat. a secondary binder coat and a final layer of granulated copper alloy. The complete matrix has been pressure tested to 15 atmospheres, 220 psi, forcing water and air through the matrix. Cuprotect™ was not breached, even under these destructive tests. There is simply no better protection or defence against osmosis/hydrolysis than that of Cuprotect™ anywhere in the world. SAFE TO THE ENVIRONMENT  |
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