'Twitching' Material Developed to Keep Bacteria from Attaching to Ship Hulls

Engineers at the Duke University have developed a new material that can be coated like paint on the hull of a ship and sheds the unwanted accumulation of bacteria and other marine growth by shaking them off.  

This material not only increases the ship's drag but also reduces the energy efficiency of the vessel. It also prevents the blocking of the undersea sensors.

It works by physically moving at the microscopic level, knocking the bacteria away, reports Phys.Org.

With the new material, the use of bacteria-killing paints can be eliminated, which are known to contain excess toxic metals that accumulate in the environment and cause a threat to the marine organisms. Apart from this, it can be used in other settings where bacteria formation causes problems.

"We have developed a material that 'wrinkles,' or changes it surface in response to a stimulus, such as stretching or pressure or electricity," said Duke engineer Xuanhe Zhao, assistant professor in Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. "This deformation can effectively detach biofilms and other organisms that have accumulated on the surface."

By keeping the bacteria away from ship hulls and other submerged objects, the larger cascade of events can be prevented that actually reduce the efficiency of the ship.

"It is known that bacterial films can recruit other organisms, so stopping the accumulation process from the beginning in the first place would make a lot of sense," said Gabriel Lopez, professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering and materials science.

The study was published online in the journal Advanced Materials.