Experiments were carried out aiming to select materials and coatings with antifouling properties against the exotic bivalve Limnoperna fortunei at power plants. Different kinds of materials were used as sample: carbon steel, metallic copper, stainless steel, galvanized steel and acrylic. Tests were also performed with several kinds of oxide based coatings at different concentrations on carbon steel samples. Copper oxide, zinc oxide and a combination of them were used. The samples were immersed in water column along a year, from October/2007 to September/2008, at Ibitinga Hydroelectric Power Plant Reservoir in São Paulo State, Brazil. The following materials and coatings showed the lower densities of golden mussel fouling: carbon steel coated with epoxy-polyamine resin based ink with addition of conventional zinc oxide 5%, carbon steel coated with epoxy-polyamine resin based ink with addition of conventional copper oxide 10% and carbon steel coated with epoxy-polyamine resin based ink with addition of nanometric zinc oxide 10%. These materials are recommended for use in golden mussel fouling control, after complementary studies about solubility, lixiviation and ecotoxicity, issues that will be considered in the new stage of the research.
antifouling paint; materials; Limnoperna fortunei; biofouling
