About Pro-Tex
The research and development of the marine coatings of Pro-Tex, division of Maxiglide Products, Inc. can be divided into three categories.
Speed coatings for smaller water craft.
Ice and snow shedding coatings.
Anti-fouling coatings and fiberglass polishes and sealants.
In the early 1990's we were able to develop a couple of speed coatings for canoes, kayaks and other smaller marine crafts that were a direct off-shoot of our technology developed for the ski industry over many years. These products were an immediate success with sailboarders and canoeists because of their ease of application and very noticeable and measurable increases in speed and performance. Many of the users of these products were also skiers and as such were familiar with the Maxiglide name and reputation and the transition to using super smooth hydro-phobic bottom coating waxes on canoes, kayaks, and even sailboards was a natural one.
Once this market was addressed, we became aware of the fouling problems with inherent to all boats and other marine substrates. In 1992, we partnered with one of the most renowned scientists in the field of anti-fouling from Harvard University. At the time, we were unable to formulate coatings that were simultaneously, safe for the environment and effective in all waters in preventing fouling of marine growth. Unable to finance continued research, the project was shelved, but the seeds for future research was planted.
In 1998, we lent our expertise to the Norwegian Olympic Committee and a six year affiliation was begun to develop and test new materials that related to the performance of sailboat and canoe racers as well as skiers. This research resulted in much success on in the 2000 in Sydney and 2004 Athens Summer Olympics for our Norwegian partners and expanded our base of knowledge regarding materials effective in the marine environment as well as the research others were doing in this field.
In the course of testing formulations for speed enhancement of skiers, one of the prerequisites was that the ski bottoms must remain completely free of contamination of ice and snow. These formulations usually involved the use of Teflon-like materials combined with compatible materials to enhance adhesion and durability. It wasn't until some years later that we realized that these formulations could be applied to more practical problems such as ice and snow adhesion to the top sides of fishing boats, and the prevention of ice adhesion on various outdoor substrates. Thus was born the Pro-Tex line of Ice & Snow Barrier products.
Using the network of scientists from the days of research into anti-fouling materials, we were made aware of new research in this area. We have been fortunate to be able to license proven innovations in this field from scientist from several parts of the world. Our objective was to have a line of safe, environmentally friendly anti-fouling coatings at a time when our waters are saturated with heavy metals from the organotin and copper based compounds laced in the bottom paints of recent past.
As an introduction to our anti-fouling technology, when a substrate is submerged in sea water, the surface is rapidly colonized by bacterial cells, which secrete extra cellular materials that encourage adsorption of other organic compounds. This bacterial biofilm changes the topography and chemistry of the surface. A number of other microorganisms including fungi, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and microalgae as well as macroalgae and invertebrates settle and attach to this biofilm to form a complex structure known as biofouling. As we know, these fouling organisms cause serious problems by settling on man-made surfaces such as ship hulls, cooling system pipes and other submerged surfaces. These organisms induce severe corrosion, increase fuel costs by increasing hydrodynamic drag and cause increased expenses for cleaning.
The release of our environmentally friendly anti-fouling compounds from our bottom paint system at a minimum effective rate protects the marine substrates from this destructive fouling. As an alternative to the status quo, our organic anti-fouling compounds that are natural products derived from marine sources are used. Our formulation is also bio-degradable so as not accumulate in the marine environment. Until our patent application is granted full status, the natural components of our anti-fouling paints, additives and the formulation as a whole shall remain proprietary and nameless.
Our test panels after a 24 month test in the water of US Atlantic and Pacific coasts and Great Lake waters show our anti-fouling compounds to be 100% effective as compared to control panels and tributyltin oxide panel.
During our field trials, a number of micro- and macro-foulers attached to the control panels. The micro-foulers consisted of various species of microalgae, and the macrofoulers were comprised of both soft and hard foulers. The attached soft foulers were diverse seaweeds including green, brown and red algae and slimes. The hard foulers were barnacles and mussels. Including all these fouling organisms the average fouling coverage on the surface of the control panels was 93%. The test panels using our Pro-Tex anti-fouling compounds showed no microfouling or macrofouling on the panel surfaces. Reference panels coated with the highly toxic and banned but highly effective tribuyltin oxide (TBTO) also exhibited no fouling organisms.
Now for the first time, there is a commercially available product that is highly effective, environmentally safe alternative that because of its biodegradability shows no signs of being able to build up in the marine environment. This product is now available in the Pro-Tex line of marine paints and coatings.