Ketone-based antifouling

[Plomong]

What does the expression "ketone-based antifouling" mean ??

How can I distinguish between water-based and ketone-based paints ??

The questions arise because the documentation of my log sensor states that it should be antifouled with water-based antifouling paint. It specifically states that ketone-based antifouling will damage the plastic housing and the through-hull fitting, and therefore must not be used.

The hull is antifouled using Hempel's Mille Dynamic.

Is this a water-based or a ketone-based (or some other-based) product ????

All comments, experiences, and information gratefully received.

Plomong

 

[VicS]

No it is not water based. It is solvent based
No so sure that you would call it "ketone based" but it does contain a small % of 4-methylpentan-2-one

aka hexone, isobutylmethyl ketone, 2-methyl-4-pentanone, MIBK, and MIK

 

[Plomong]

Thanks for the response.

I think that is what they mean -- that it should not contain any ketone, as they, it would seem, damage the sensor or plastic in some way. Am I right ??

Do you know of any water-based antifouling paints ??

Plomong.

 

[vyv_cox]

My sounder log instructions say the same. Despite that I have antifouled it with perfectly conventional antifouling paint for the past 15 years, and done the same on two previous boats. Most of the antifoulings I have ever used smelt mostly of toluene or xylene, although they very possibly contained some ketones. The one VicS mentions has a fairly large molecular weight, which I would not expect to cause much harm to plastics. Different if it was acetone or MEK perhaps, although low boiling ketones evaporate so quickly that I doubt even that would do significant harm.

 

[VicS]

fairly large molecular weight,

Did you mean relative molecular mass (RMM) ?

International Micron Optima is, I think you will find, water based.
I am sure there are others but I do not know which they are

Many, but not all, of the popular International A/Fs do not contain MIBK

 

[vyv_cox]

Did you mean relative molecular mass (RMM) ?

No, my chemistry education is much too old for that!

 

[pvb]

The hull is antifouled using Hempel's Mille Dynamic.

Is this a water-based or a ketone-based (or some other-based) product ????

Mille Dynamic uses a light aromatic naptha base. It won't damage your log sensor.

 

[Plomong]

Thanks, VicS and vyv_cox for the information and your experience.

Tomorrow I'll antifoul the sensor (carefully) and see how it goes.

If all is OK, you will have helped eliminate an unwelcome chore required before every voyage:
- Down on hands and knees,
- open trap door,
- insert log,
- mop up the water that has (mostly) fallen into the tupperware dish around the through-hull,
- close trapdoor,
- empty recipient into which water was transferred,
- return recipient to its storage place near the log fitting.

and of course the inverse operation on returning to port !!

All necessary because the area behind the trapdoor doesn't drain into the bilges.

What brought me to seek a better arrangement was not so much the inconvenience, but rather, having the other day bungled the operation, a considerable quantity of water overflowed from the tupperware dish onto Someones shoes (yes -- the capital letter IS significant).

Plomong

PS: When making the original post, I thought (even hoped) that maybe VicS would be around and see it. I am always amazed at the breadth of knowledge of all things chemical that VicS brings to the forum. Truly truly first class.