Patent Publication Number: US-2003225184-A1

Title: Triarylsilyl(meth)acryloyl-containing polymers for marine coating compositions

Description:
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/383,961 filed May 30, 2003. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates to polymers for self-polishing marine antifouling paints. More particularly, the invention relates to copolymer binders, which provide an erosion rate in seawater that is suitable for use in marine antifouling paints. These copolymer binders contain a pendant triarylsilyl(meth)acryloyl group at lower levels than previously believed necessary to achieve an erosion rate in sea-water that is suitable for use in marine antifouling paints. The copolymers are characterized by an erosion rate in seawater of about 2 to about 15 microns/month.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The polymers widely used at present to fabricate self-polishing marine antifouling paints are polymers that contain pendant organotin ester (e.g., acrylate) groups. Indeed, marine antifouling paints based on organotin acrylate polymers have dominated the market for over 20 years. The organotin acrylate-containing polymers, when formulated into a paint and applied to the bottom (i.e., hull) of a marine vessel, hydrolyze in seawater to release an organotin compound (usually tributyltin oxide) that is an active antifoulant fouling (i.e., undesirable attachment of organisms to a marine surface) results in increased drag which can significantly increase fuel consumption and, therefore, operating costs. In addition, movement of the vessel through water erodes the paint surface to constantly expose a fresh polymer surface to the hydrolytic effect of seawater. This constant erosion of the paint surface results in the development and maintenance of a smooth surface on the immersed exterior of the marine vessel, which also contributes to reduced drag and greater efficiency.  
       [0004] Further, these paints, properly formulated and applied, have the ability to remain effective for 5 years. This is important because large vessels (e.g., oil tankers and container ships) are dry-docked at 5-year intervals for routine maintenance and inspection; it is most convenient to repaint the hull exterior during these periodic maintenance episodes.  
       [0005] Although effective, the use of organotin-containing polymers in antifouling marine paints has come under attack due to the adverse effect that organotin compounds are believed to have upon the marine environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has significantly restricted the continued use of organotin compounds and the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a unit of the United Nations, has recently approved a resolution to phase out and eventually prohibit the use of organotin-containing materials in antifouling paints.  
       [0006] As a result, there is a need in the art for improved erodible antifouling paint compositions comprising film-forming polymers that are free of tin, while retaining the good antifouling and self-polishing properties as well as the longevity of the organotin-containing antifouling paints.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,055 discloses that silylacrylate copolymers of formula where X is H or CH 3   
                 
 
       [0008] R is selected from the group consisting of  
       —SiR′ n R″ 3−n  or —Si(OR′ n R″ 3−n ) 3    
       [0009] wherein R′ and R″ are independently straight or branched chain alkyl C 1 -C 10  or phenyl and n=0-3 are useful to formulate marine antifoulant coatings. The organosilylacrylate component is present in the Examples in amounts ranging from 20 to 40 mole percent.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,284 discloses that copolymers containing silylacrylate units are useful to formulate marine antifoulant coating compositions. The Examples (Monomer A4 in Table 3) show arylsilylacrylate copolymers containing 45 and 50 percent by weight of arylsilylacrylate component.  
       [0011] EP 1 127 925 A1 discloses polymeric binders for marine antifoulant paints that contain triarylsilylacrylate groups. The patent teaches that the polymer contains from 20 to 70 percent by weight of triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate, preferably from 30 to 65 percent by weight, and more preferably from 50 to 60 percent by weight.  
       [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,374 discloses marine antifoulant paints formulated from polymers containing triorganosilyl groups; Monomer M4 is diphenyl,t-butylsilyl acrylate, which is employed in an amount of 10 wt % to make polymer S4. This weight represents about 3 mole %, which, as will be seen from the data, is too low for proper erosion of the polymer film.  
       [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,055 discloses that marine antifouling paints can be formulated from copolymers containing a hydrolysable triorganosilyl residue, including an arylsilyl residue. The preferred level of triorganosilyl acrylate or methacrylate in the copolymer is from 25 to 40 mole percent.  
       [0014] WO91/14743 discloses erodible marine antifoulant paints with polymeric binders having organosilyl functional groups with the paint having increased storage stability when containing antifouling agents containing copper or zinc. Increased paint storage stability is obtained by using monoamine and quaternary ammonium compounds which inhibit gelation associated with such binders and copper or zinc containing antifouling agents.  
       [0015] Additional patents that concern triorganosilyl containing polymers as binders for marine antifouling paints are: JP 63-057676 which discloses adding a polymethyl silsesquioxane powder for stability when the paint has copper containing antifoulant compounds; EP 714957 B1 which discloses a copolymer containing a triorganosilylacrylate and as an essential ingredient a monomer containing an acryloyloxy, a methacryloyloxy, maleinoyloxy or fumaroyloxy group; EP 0802243 B1 which discloses a marine antifouling paint having an organosilylacrylate based polymeric binder and a rosin compound to improve the erosion rate of the paint;  
       [0016] The following listed patents and applications further disclose terpolymers comprising triorganosily(meth)acryloyl pendant groups useful as binders in marine antifouling coatings: EP 0646630B1, EP 0775733A1, EP 1016681A2, EP 1127925A1, JP 8-269389A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,365, U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,284, U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,374, WO 84/02915, WO 91/14743, WO 0077102A1.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates the relationship between mole percent triphenylsilyl(meth)acrylate residue in a copolymer and the erosion rate in seawater of the copolymer and compares those erosion rates with that of a triorganotin-based polymer. Each phenyl group can be substituted or un-substituted or a heterocyclic aromatic group and each can be the same or different.  
     [0018]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the rotor test apparatus used to determine erosion rate. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     [0019] The present invention relates to the discovery that triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate-containing copolymers, where the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate component is present at surprisingly low levels, are useful to produce marine antifouling paints that have self polishing properties.  
     [0020] In one aspect, the invention relates to seawater-erodible copolymers comprising the residue of triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate and the residue of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with said triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate, said copolymer characterized by an erosion rate in seawater of 2 to 15 microns/month.  
     [0021] As used herein, the term “copolymer” includes polymers comprising two or more different monomeric units, e.g. polymers containing three different monomeric units, also known as terpolymers. Also, in practicing the present invention, mixtures of copolymers may be used in antifouling paint compositions with the proviso that the total of the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate is greater than 9 mole percent and less than 20 mole percent for the mixture of copolymers even though each individual copolymer may be outside the mole percent range of 9 mole percent and less than 20 mole percent for the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate component in the copolymer.  
     [0022] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a self-polishing antifouling marine coating which comprises a triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate-containing copolymer and a toxicant, the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate-containing copolymer containing from above 9 to about 20 mole percent of triarylsilyl(meth)acryloyl component and characterized by an erosion rate in seawater of from about 2 to about 15 microns/month.  
     [0023] In another embodiment, the invention relates to a triarylsilylmethacrylate-containing copolymers wherein the mole percentage of the triarylsilylmethacryloyl component is in the range of from above 9 to about 20 mole percent.  
     [0024] In one aspect, the invention relates to a seawater-erodible copolymer comprising randomly recurring units of formula  
                 
 
     [0025] where A represents from above 9 to about 20 mole percent of the copolymer and comprises triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate and B represents the residue of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with A, said copolymer characterized by an erosion rate in seawater of from 2 to about 15 microns/month.  
     [0026] In another aspect, the invention relates to a self-polishing antifouling marine coating composition comprising a triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate-containing copolymer and a toxicant, the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate-containing copolymer characterized by an erosion rate in seawater of from about 2 to about 15 microns/month and comprising randomly recurring units of formula  
                 
 
     [0027] where A is present in an amount of from above 9 to about 20 mole percent and comprises triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate, and B is the residue of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with A.  
     [0028] The copolymers of the present invention are prepared by polymerizing triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate with one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers which are copolymerizable therewith. As used herein the term “triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate” is intended to encompass both triarylsilylacrylate and triarylsilylmethacrylate; the same is the case when “triarylsilyl(meth)acryloyl” is used.  
     [0029] The term “aryl” as used here includes substituted and unsubstituted aryl and heteroaryl structures comprising triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate of unit A of the seawater erodible copolymer of randomly recurring units of copolymer of formula -[A]-[B]— in which A represents from above 9 to about 20 mole percent of the copolymer and the “aryl” group is selected from phenyl, o-methylphenyl, p-methylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, o-tolyl, m-tolyl, p-tolyl, 2,3-dimethylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 3,4-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,4,6-trimethyiphenyl, o-fluorophenyl, o-chlorophenyl, o-bromophenyl, o-ethylphenyl, m-fluorophenyl, m-chlorophenyl, m-bromophenyl, p-fluorophenyl, p-chlorophenyl, p-bromophenyl, p-ethylphenyl, p-propylphenyl, p-n-butylphenyl, p-t-butylphenyl, 2,3-difluorophenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 2,6-dichlorophenyl, 2,3-dichlorophenyl, 2-methyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2-fluoro-5-methylphenyl, 3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl, 3-methyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2-methyl-3-fluorophenyl, 3,4-difluorophenyl, 2,5-difluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl, 2,5-dichlrophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, 3,5-dibromophenyl, 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 2,3,4-trifluorophenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 2,3,5-trifluorophenyl, 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl, 2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl, 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl, 2,4,5-trimethylphenyl, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl, 2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl, 2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-bromophenyl, o-trifluoromethyl, m-trifluoromethyl, p-trifluoromethyl, 2-cbloro-5-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2-trifluoromethyl-3-chlorophenyl, 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 2-biphenyl, 3-biphenyl, 4-biphenyl, 2-methyl-3-biphenyl, 2-fluoro-4-biphenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-methyl-1-naphthyl, 4-methyl-1-naphthyl, 5-acenaphthenyl, 2-fluorenyl, 1-anthracenyl, 2-anthracenyl, 9-anthracenyl, 9-phenanthrenyl, 1-pyrenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-ethoxyphenyl, 2-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxy-5-fluorophenyl, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,4-difluoro-6-methoxyphenyl, 2,4-dimethoxy-6-fluorophenyl, 4-phenoxyphenyl, 6-methoxy-2-naphthalenyl, 4-dimethylaminophenyl, 2-trifluoromethyl-4-dimethylaminophenyl, 3-[N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)amino]phenyl, 4-[N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)amino]phenyl2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 1-methyl-5-imidazolyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-5-imidazolyl, 2-benzoxazolyl, 2-methyl-5-benzoxazolyl, 2-methyl-5-benzothiazolyl, 2-pyridinyl, 4-methyl-2-pyridinyl, 4-pyridinyl, 6-methyl-2-pyridinyl, 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridinyl, 6-(2,2′-bipyridinyl), 4′-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridinyl), 2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-3-pyridinyl, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridinyl, 6-methoxy-2-pyridinyl, 6-phenyl-3-pyridazinyl, 6-methoxy-3-pyridazinyl, 2-pyrimidinyl, 5-pyrimidinyl, 4-trifluoromethyl-2-pyrimidinyl, 2,4,6-trifluoro-5-pyrimidinyl, 2,4-dimethoxy-6-pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 2-quinolinyl, 4-quinolinyl, 6-quinolinyl, 8-quinolinyl, 7-trifluoromethyl-4-quinolinyl, 8-trifluoromethyl-4-quinolinyl, 2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinyl, 3-quinolinyl, 4-quinaldinalyl, 7-quinaldinalyl, 2-lepidinyl, 4-isoquinolyl, 5-(1,10-phenanthrolinyl). The preferred aryl group is phenyl.  
     [0030] B represents the residue of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate. The properties of the copolymer can be modified by adding hydrophilic or hydrophobic functionality by way of the monomer or combination of monomers comprising B. Useful monomers include the esters of acrylic acid such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, sec-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxy-n-propyl acrylate, hydroxy-i-propyl acrylate, glycidyl acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, 2-methoxypropyl acrylate, methoxytriethyleneglycol acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl acrylate, ethoxydiethyleneglycol acrylate and the esters of methacrylic acid such as methylmethacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, sec-butyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, 2-methoxyethyl methacrylate, 2-methoxypropyl methacrylate, methoxytriethyleneglycol methacrylate, and 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxy-n-propy(meth)acrylate, hydroxy-i-propyl methacrylate, phenoxyethyl methacrylate, butoxy ethyl methacrylate, isobornyl (meth)acrylate. Other useful ethylenically unsaturated monomers include neopentyl glycolmethylether propoxylate acrylate, poly(propylene glycol)methylether acrylate, ethoxydiethyleneglycol methacrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-butoxyethyl acrylate, crotonic acid, di(ethylene glycol) 2-ethylhexyl ether acrylate, di(ethylene glyxol)methyl ether methacrylate, 3,3-dimethyl acrylic acid, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol phenyl ether acrylate, ethylene glycol phenyl ether methacrylate, 2(5H)-furanone, hydroxybutyl methacrylate, methyl-2(5H)-furanone, methyl trans-3-methoxyacrylate, 2-(t-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, 3tris-(trimetbylsiloxy)silyl propyl methacrylate, tiglic acid, and trans-2-hexenoic acid.  
     [0031] Other examples of polymerizable monomers include vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl benzoate, maleic esters such as dimethyl maleate, diethyl maleate, di-n-propyl maleate, diisopropyl maleate, di-2-methoxyethyl maleate, fumaric esters such as dimethyl fumarate, diethyl fumarate, di-n-propyl fumarate, diisopropyl fumarate, styrene, vinyltoluene, alpha-methylstyrene, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, N-t-butyl acrylamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and acrylonitrile.  
     [0032] Additional monomers useful in the production of copolymers of the invention include: trialkylsilyl(meth)acrylates such as trimethylsilyl(meth)acrylate, diphenylmethylsilyl(meth)acrylate, phenyldimethylsilyl(meth)acrylate and tributylsilyl(meth)acrylate.  
     [0033] The triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate component represents from above 9 to about 20 mole percent of the copolymer. This range provides a copolymer having an erosion rate in seawater of from 2 to about 15 microns/month. Preferably, the triarylsilylacrylate component is present in an amount to provide a copolymer having an erosion rate from about 3 to about 9 microns/month. The amounts of triarylsilylacrylate monomer and can be selected and adjusted within the range of above 9 to about 20 mole percent of the copolymer to provide a copolymer having an erosion rate of from about 2 to about 15 microns/month, preferably from about 3 to about 9 microns/month and optimally from about 3 to about 7 microns/month. Also preferred is a polymer that provides a reasonably uniform erosion rate for the marine antifouling paint.  
     [0034] While most of the prior art evaluates the erosion rate of marine antifouling paints, the present invention measures the erosion rate of the polymer binder. It has been found that measuring the erosion rate of candidate films for 60±5 days provides a basis for identifying and excluding those polymers that erode too quickly or too slowly to be the basis of a satisfactory paint. From the data in FIG. 1, it is seen that films containing 5, 6, and 9 mole percent triphenylsilyl methacrylate erode too slowly to pass a 65-day test. Specifically, it is observed that, while the erosion rates of the polymers containing 6 and 9 mole percent exceed 2 microns/month during the early part of the test, they gradually decrease so that after about 40 days the erosion rates are below 2 microns/month. It is also observed that films containing 25 mole percent triphenylsilylmethacrylate and above erode too quickly. While the erosion rate of the 25 mole percent polymer begins inside the desired 2 to 15 microns/month range, by about 25 days the erosion rate has increased to a level well above 15 microns/month. The films containing 16 and 20 mole percent of triphenylsilylmethacrylate display erosion rates in the range of about 3 to about 9 microns per month during a 65-day erosion test and these are comparable to the erosion performance of BIOMET 304, a commercially available (from ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc.) triorganotin-containing polymer. Thus, polymer compositions having a triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate content in the range of above 9 to about 20 mole percent have erosion rates comparable to those of the organotin-containing polymers that are the standard of the industry.  
     [0035] In order to facilitate evaluation of the invention, the range of copolymer compositions illustrated in FIG. 1 is tabulated below to provide both mole percent and weight percent for each copolymer.  
                   TABLE 1                       Mole %   65 DAY TEST                                        5   FAIL       6   FAIL       9   FAIL       16   PASS       20   PASS       25   FAIL                  
 
     [0036] The data in Table 1, 3 and 4 establish that a mole percent range for monomer A of from above 9 mole percent to about 20 mole percent produces a polymer that passes the erosion rate test and therefore has an erosion rate suitable for use as in a marine antifouling paint. Such polymers have an erosion rate in seawater of from about 2 to about 15 microns/month as determined by testing in accordance with the rotor test described hereinafter and when tested for a period of 60±5 days. Thus, it is seen that it is only within a narrow band of mole percentages of from above 9 mole percent to about 20 mole percent that triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate copolymers have erosion rates comparable to those of the triorganotin-containing copolymers and are therefore suitable for use in marine antifouling paints. Therefore, the copolymer of the present invention is suitable for formulating a marine antifouling paint having a multi-year useful life on an ocean-going vessel similar to the useful life achievable with triorganotin-containing copolymers of 3 to 5 years.  
     [0037] In general, the erosion rate is considered to be a function of the amount of hydrolysable monomer in the polymer. Indeed, U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,055, which discloses and claims seawater erodible silylacrylate copolymers, teaches at Column 5, lines 43 et seq. that the superior control of the erosion rate relies on chemically tailoring the polymer so that it is selectively weakened at certain points pendant to the polymer chain at the paint/water interface. These weak links are slowly attacked by seawater allowing the polymer to gradually become seawater soluble or seawater swellable. This weakens the hydrolyzed surface polymer film to such an extent that moving sea water is able to wash off this layer and thus expose a fresh surface.  
     [0038] A portion of the monomeric units provides functional groups which provide a site of weakness, that is, sites which tend to hydrolyze in the presence of seawater. The ratio of functionalized monomers to non-functionalized monomers is selected to provide control of the erosion rate.  
     [0039] The proposition, illustrated in FIG. 1, that at levels below 9 mole percent and above about 20 mole percent of triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate the erosion rate is not satisfactory, is wholly surprising and unexpected, particularly in view of the prior art teaching that silylacrylate levels in the range of 25 to 50 mole percent should be used in order to obtain useful polymers.  
     [0040] The copolymers of the present invention will contain from above 9 to about 20 mole percent of triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate component and correspondingly from below 91 to about 80 mole percent of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers that are copolymerizable with triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate.  
     [0041] While the data in the present discussion has focused on erosion rate, the amount of triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate monomer present in conjunction with one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers can be optimized to address other properties such as film lifetime, erosion rate and erosion rate uniformity, ease of processing, ease of formulation, biocide compatibility, shelf-life, adhesion, crack-resistance, flexibility, and economics.  
     [0042] The random triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate copolymer can be obtained by polymerizing the mixture of monomers in the presence of a free-radical olefinic polymerization initiator or catalyst using any of various methods such as solution polymerization, bulk polymerization, emulsion polymerization, and suspension polymerization using methods well-known and widely used in the art. In preparing a coating composition from the copolymer, it is advantageous to dilute the copolymer with an organic solvent to obtain a polymer solution having a convenient viscosity. For this, it is desirable to employ the solution polymerization method or bulk polymerization method.  
     [0043] Examples of olefinic polymerization initiators include azo compounds such as 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) and triphenylmethylazobenzene. The azobisnitriles are efficient sources of free radicals for vinyl polymerization and can be used in bulk, solution, emulsion, and suspension polymerizations. In addition to 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile), other members of the class include 2,2′-azobis(2-methylbutanenitrile), 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylpentanenitrile), 1,1 ′-azobis(cyanocyclohexane) and 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylpentanenitrile). One can also use peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, t-butyl peroxybenzoate, and t-butyl peroxyisopropylcarbonate.  
     [0044] Examples of useful organic solvents include aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene and toluene, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane and heptane, esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol and butyl alcohol, ethers such as dioxane and tetrahydrofuran, and ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone. The solvents are used either alone or in combination.  
     [0045] The desirable molecular weight of the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate-containing copolymer thus obtained is in the range of from 1,000 to 200,000, preferably from 10,000 to 150,000 in terms of weight-average molecular weight. Too low or too high molecular weight copolymers create difficulties in forming normal coating films. Too high molecular weights result in long, intertwined polymer chains that do not perform properly and result in viscous solutions that need to be thinned with solvent so that a single coating operation results in a thin film coating. Too low molecular weight polymers require multiple coating operations and provide films that may lack integrity and do not perform properly. It is advantageous that the viscosity of the solution of the copolymer is 200 to 6,000 centipoise at 25° C. To achieve this, it is desirable to regulate the solid content of the polymer solution to a value in the range of from 5 to 90% by weight, desirably from 15 to 85% by weight.  
     [0046] The toxicant used in the coating composition of the present invention may be any of a wide range of conventionally known toxicants. The known toxicants are roughly divided into inorganic compounds, metal-containing organic compounds, and metal-free organic compounds.  
     [0047] Examples of inorganic toxicant compounds include copper compounds such as cuprous oxide, copper powder, copper thiocyanate, copper carbonate, copper chloride, and copper sulfate, and zinc and nickel compounds such as zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, nickel sulfate, and copper-nickel alloys.  
     [0048] Examples of metal-containing organic toxicant compounds include organocopper compounds, organonickel compounds, and organozinc compounds. Examples of organocopper compounds include oxine copper, copper nonylphenolsulfonate, copper bis(ethylenediamine) bis(dodecylbenzenesulfonate), copper acetate, copper naphthenate, and copper bis(pentachlorophenolate). Examples of organonickel compounds include nickel acetate and nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate. Examples of organozinc compounds include zinc acetate, zinc carbamate, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, zinc pyrithione, and zinc ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate).  
     [0049] Examples of metal-free organic toxicant compounds include N-trihalomethylthiophtalimides, dithiocarbamic acids, N-arylmaleimides, 3-(substituted amino)-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-diones, dithiocyano compounds, triazine compounds, and others.  
     [0050] Examples of N-trihalomethylthiophthalimide toxicants include N-trichloromethylthiophthalimide and N-fluorodichloromethylthiophthalimide. Examples of dithiocarbamic toxicants include bis(dimethylthiocarbamoyl)disulfide, ammonium N-methyldithiocarbamate, and ammonium ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate).  
     [0051] Examples of arylmaleimide toxicants include N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)maleimide, N-4-tolylmaleimide, N-3-chlorophenylmaleimide, N-(4-n-butylphenyl)maleimide, and N-anilinophenyl)maleimide.  
     [0052] Examples of 3-(substituted amino)-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione toxicants include 3 benzylideneamino-1,3 thiazolidine-2,4-dione, 3-4(methylbenzylideneamino), 1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione, 3-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-thiazolidine-2,4-dione, 3 -(4-dichlorobenzylideneamino)-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione and 3-(2,4-dichlorobenzylideneamino-1,3 -thiazolidine-2,4-dione.  
     [0053] Examples of dithiocyano toxicant compounds include dithiocyanomethane, dithiocyanoethane, and 2,5-dithiocyanothiophene. Examples of the triazine compounds include 2-methylthio-4-t-butylamino-6-cyclo-propylamino-s-triazine.  
     [0054] Other examples of metal-free organic toxicant compounds include 2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile, N,N-dimethyldichlorophenylurea, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, N,N-dimethyl-N′-phenyl-(N-fluorodichloromethylthio)sulfamide, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, 3-iodo-2-propylbutyl carbamate, 2-(methoxycarbonylamino)benzimidazole, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)pyridine and diiodomethyl-p-tolyl sulfone.  
     [0055] One or more toxicants, which may be selected from the foregoing toxicants, can be employed in the antifoulant coating composition. The toxicant is used in an amount from 0.1 to 80% by weight, preferably from 1 to 60% by weight of the coating composition. Too low toxicant levels do not produce an antifouling effect, while too large a toxicant level can result in the formation of a coating film which is liable to develop defects such as cracking and peeling, thereby, becoming less effective.  
     [0056] Additive ingredients may optionally be incorporated into the coating composition of the present invention. Examples of such additive ingredients are colorants such as pigments (e.g., red iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, talc), and dyes, stabilizers, dehumidifiers, and additives ordinarily employed in coating compositions such as antisagging agents, antiflooding agents, antisettling agents, and antifoaming agents.  
     [0057] Triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate copolymers and coating compositions made from these copolymers may increase in viscosity during storage. To prevent an unsatisfactory viscosity increase, materials known as “stabilizers” may be added during or after polymerization or may be incorporated into the coating composition. Stabilizing materials include inorganic dehydrating agents, such as molecular sieves or anhydrous calcium sulfate; organic dehydrating agents, such as orthoesters; bases, such as amino compounds; water reactives, such as alkoxy silanes; chelating agents, such as tris nonylphenylphosphite; and hindered phenol antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT). In normal use, the stabilizer level is 0.1 to 10 weight percent based on the coating composition.  
     [0058] Rosin and rosin derivatives may be added to the coating composition as part of the binder system. Rosin and rosin derivatives are preferably present in the range of 5 to 60 weight percent of the copolymer, preferably 10 to 30 weight percent for the purpose of assisting in controlling water penetration into the coating film.  
     [0059] For applying the marine antifouling coating compositions made from the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate copolymers of the present invention onto the surface of a marine vessel, the coating composition is applied to the surface in a suitable manner (such as by brushing or spraying) and the solvent is removed by evaporation at ambient temperature or with heating. By this method, a dry coating film of suitable thickness can be easily formed on the surface of the vessel.  
     GENERAL POLYMERIZATION PROCEDURE  
     [0060] Xylene was injected into a microreactor equipped with a condenser, an inert gas/vacuum line connector, two variable speed syringe pumps, septum inlet, temperature control of ±2° C. and mechanical agitation. The xylene was heated to 86° C. and held at that temperature for 10 minutes. The syringe pumps were then turned on and a mixture of the monomers, initiator (2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile)) and xylene was added over a period of 1 hour. The reaction mixture was held at 86° C. for an additional 3 hours, whereupon the temperature was raised to 110° C. and held at this level for 10 minutes. The heating was then discontinued and the reactor was allowed to cool to room temperature. The monomers in this experiment were triphenylsilylmethacrylate (TPSMA) and methylmethacrylate (MMA). The compositions are summarized in Table 2 below.  
                       TABLE 2                       Mole %   Mole %   Monomer/Initiator       TPSMA   MMA   Ratio                                            5.1   94.9   215       5.1   94.9   215       6.1   93.9   215       6.1   93.9   215       9.1   90.9   215       9.1   90.9   215       16.2   83.8   216       16.2   83.8   215       16.2   83.8   215       20.2   79.8   216       20.2   79.8   215       25.3   74.7   216       25.2   74.8   216                  
 
     ROTOR TEST  
     [0061] The performance of the copolymers in relatively moving sea-water was tested in the apparatus illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Referring to these Figures, a poly(methylmethacrylate) disc  1  having a diameter of 8 inches was coated with radial stripes  2  with the copolymer undergoing testing being applied from an applicator adapted to deposit a film. The disc  1  was set aside to dry and the thickness of the stripes  2  was measured by contact profilometry using a Tencor Alpha Step 500 Profiler.  
     [0062] The disc  1  was mounted on a shaft  3  driven by an electric motor  4  and immersed in flowing sea water  5  contained in a vessel  6  having an inlet  7  and an outlet  8 . A pump (not shown) is used to circulate sea water from outlet  8  through a filter (not shown) and back to vessel  6  through inlet  7 . Cooling fluid is circulated through cooling coils  10  to maintain the sea water temperature. Partial divider  9 , extends from above the water surface to just below the depth of the cooling coils. The peripheral speed of the disc  1  at the measured circumfrence point (8.0 cm radius) was 17 knots and the seawater temperature was maintained at 20±3° C. Failure to control the test temperature has consequences. Higher temperatures result in faster erosion, while lower temperatures cause slower erosion.  
     [0063] During this test, the stripes were eroded away from the disc. The film thickness was measured periodically during the rotor test for each stripe at the 8.0 cm radius point and the rate of removal of polymer by erosion was determined. The Rotor Test is conducted for 60±5 days in sea water and the erosion rate is calculated in microns per month (μ/mo) from film thickness measurements as a function of time. The erosion rate in sea water so calculated is defined herein as the “Erosion Rate” and referred to as a “65 day Erosion Rate test”. FIG. 1 is a plot of Erosion Rate versus time for polymer samples having various mole percents of triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate. FIG. 1 shows that the Erosion Rate of the copolymer was most closely related to that of a reference triorganotin-containing polymer when the triarylsilyl(meth)acrylate content was in the range of above 9 to about 20 mole percent.  
     [0064] Rotor tests were conducted for two series of terpolymers comprising triphenylsilyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and a third monomer as specified in the table. The Erosion Rate results are shown in Tables 3 and 4. Table 4 demonstrates conclusively that the compositions having less than 9 mole percent of triarylsilylmethacrylate do not have satisfactory Erosion Rates. Conversely, Table 3 demonstrates conclusively that polymers having about 10 to about 15 mole percent triarylsilylmethacrylate have satisfactory Erosion Rates.  
                                   TABLE 3                               MMA-TPSMA-           8-week           [3 rd     [3 rd ]           ER       Example   Monomer]   Composition   Mw   PDI   (μ/mo)                                                        1   DEF   80-15-5    38,000   1.9   4.6       2   PEMA   80-15-5    61,000   2.3   3.5       3   HPA   72-15-13   123,000   3.2   3.4       4   DEF   87-10-3    63,000   2.2   3.3       5   HPA   83-10-7    84,000   2.3   3.0       6   HPA   77-10-13   132,000   3.0   2.9       7   HPA   78-15-7    82,000   2.5   2.8       8   DEGEHA   75-15-10   135,000   4.0   2.8       9   DMAEMA   87-10-3    43,000   1.9   2.5       10   BEA   85-10-5    46,000   1.9   2.4       11   PEMA   85-10-5    115,000   2.6   2.4       12   HBMA   75-15-10   62,000   2.3   2.4       13   EGMEA   82-15-3    73,000   2.3   2.3       14   HBMA   80-15-5    69,000   2.3   2.3       15   DMAA   80-15-5    59,000   2.3   2.2       16   HPA   80-10-10   120,000   3.0   2.2       17   PEMA   82-15-3    111,000   2.5   2.1       18   HPA   77-10-13   92,000   2.6   2.1       19   DEGEHA   80-15-5    61,000   2.5   2.0       20   THFA   77-10-13   112,000   3.4   2.0                                                                                                  
 
     [0065]                                   TABLE 4                               MMA-TPSMA-           8-week           [3 rd     [3 rd ]           ER       Example   Monomer]   Composition   Mw   PDI   (μ/mo)                                                        A   DEGEEMA   92-5-3    79,000   2.7   0.7       B   DEGEEMA   90-5-5    65,000   2.4   1.1       C   DEGEEMA   85-5-10   128,000   4.0   1.5       D   EGMEA   85-5-10   56,000   2.2   1.6       E   EGMEA   90-5-5    63,000   2.2   1.0       F   EGMEA   92-5-3    63,000   2.5   0.8       G   EGMEA   90-5-5    99,000   2.8   0.5       H   EGMEA   92-5-3    113,000   2.8   1.4       I   THFA   82-5-13   115,000   3.8   1.5       J   THFA   85-5-10   71,000   2.5   1.7       K   THFA   88-5-7    74,000   2.3   1.2       L   BEA   85-5-10   48,000   1.9   1.6       M   BEA   92-5-3    58,000   2.1   1.2       N   DEF   92-5-3    57,000   2.1   1.8       O   DEF   90-5-5    43,000   2.0   1.1       P   DEF   87-5-8    56,000   2.1   1.0       Q   MAA   94-5-1    51,000   2.1   0.8       R   HPA   82-5-13   67,000   2.2   1.5       S   HPA   85-5-10   66,000   2.3   1.9       T   HPA   88-5-7    61,000   2.1   1.2       U   PEMA   85-5-10   89,903   2.6   0.6       V   PEMA   90-5-5    65,838   2.3   0.9       W   PEMA   92-5-3    64,474   2.3   1.3       X   HPA   88-5-7    75,000   2.2   1.1