Luci M., et al. 2026. Underwater Performance of Eco-Friendly Choline-Based Ionic Liquid Coatings Applied on Stone Surfaces. Coatings.
In marine environments, biofouling can accelerate stone surfaces deterioration and contribute to the degradation of the vast submerged cultural heritage. In our new article, we present an eco-sustainable antifouling approach for the protection of stone surfaces exposed to the sea.
This work represents the first scientific publication based on an experiment carried out in the mesocosms of the CRIMAC – Calabria Marine Centre (Amendolara, CS), where we evaluated the stability and durability of coatings under controlled but realistic conditions.
In collaboration with the University of Calabria and the University of Messina, we have developed and tested innovative antifouling coatings for the protection of calcareous surfaces in marine environments. A key element of the research was the possibility of evaluating the antifouling formulations not only with standard laboratory tests, but also in the mesocosms at the Amendolara site, which allow simulation in controlled immersion conditions.
This approach made it possible to analyse chemical stability, durability and resistance to the erosive action of seawater when coatings are applied to stone surfaces, also considering different hydrodynamic conditions and substrates with varying susceptibility.
The results confirm the high potential of the coatings, opening up prospects for the conservation of underwater cultural heritage and for other applications in the marine environment.
Paper open access (MDPI Coatings): https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/16/1/136
