Revolymer secures funding for marine project

REVOLYMER, the Deeside polymer company which is developing a number of consumer products, including chewing gum, is part of a consortium working on marine coatings to reduce drag.

The group, which also includes AkzoNobel’s international paint business and the university’s of Liverpool and Newcastle, has secured £500,000 from the Technology Strategy Board.

They are developing a coating that will minimise “marine fouling”, or the accumulation of marine organisms on ships’ hulls.

In a statement Revolymer said: “The presence of fouling on a ship’s hull leads to an increase in surface roughness. This results in a significant increase in hull frictional drag causing increased fuel consumption and therefore increased carbon dioxide emissions.

“The increased energy consumption cost associated with marine fouling can run to billions of pounds every year.”