A Literature Review of Antifouling Surfaces and Treatments for Long-term Synergistic Biofilm Control

Biofilm prevention and control are needed for spacecraft water storage and distribution systems for long duration exploration missions. One way of preventing biofilm formation involves the use of surface treatments. However, antifouling surfaces have a limited lifespan because microbes alter the surface properties and reduce their antifouling function over time. Surface treatment requires a maintenance strategy to extend the lifespan of the antifouling surface. This study aims to give an overview of state-of-the-art technologies for antifouling and maintenance methods that can be considered when developing Synergistic Biofilm Control (SyBiCo) method for spacecraft water systems.