Booth, ChadWheeler, Phil E.2020-10-162020-10-162010-05Wheeler, P. E. (2010). Anti-biofouling polymetric windows: Additive effects on mechanical and optical properties (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/12778The objective of this study is to investigate the effects anti-biofouling additives have on the optical and mechanical properties in several transparent polymer systems. The resulting effects on mechanical and optical properties of incorporating these additives will be analyzed in a series of studies. The materials chosen for this study were polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), bisphenol A polycarbonate (bis A-PC), and CBDO, a co-polyterephthalate derived from 2,2,4,4/-tetramethyl-l-3-cyclobutanediol and 1,3 propanediol. The anti-biofouling agents selected were all EPA, approved biocides. Irgarol ®1051 and Diuron were incorporated by melt compounding at the biocide manufacturers' recommended dosage. Subsequently, the compounded pellets were subjected to compression molding in order to produce the test plaques. Studies were conducted using TGA, DSC, and UV spectroscopy to evaluate mechanical and optical properties. The data show that PMMA/Irgarol ®1051 material displayed an increase in mechanical properties with increasing amounts of anti-fouling agent. Optical tests indicated that PMMA/Irgarol ®1051 had the highest retained percent optical transmission of all of the combinations of polymers and biocides tested.Text46 pages1 file (.pdf)enfoulingpolymersoceanographic instrumentsmarine resourcesThesis