Marine Biofouling of Synthetic and Metallic Screens

Biofouling of meshes can create serious problems in seawater intake or discharge systems, and in aquacultural applications, by reducing water flow and increasing drag forces and pressure drops. Biofouling tests on a number of different meshes in the size range of 1/4 to 1 1/2 in. (0.5 to 4cm), including both synthetic and metallic meshes, were carried out at two sites in New England over a four year period. The limited data available in the literature from other sites and conditions are also identified and discussed. Some of the samples tested, especially the 90-10 Cu-Ni expanded metal mesh, showed considerable biofouling resistance compared to other mesh types.