Abstract: An anticorrosion and/or antibiofouling coating for a substrate. The coating comprises a corrosion inhibitor and/or a microorganism incorporated within the coating. The coating a sol-gel derived coating that may be formed from one or more ormosil compounds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for protecting a metal substrate from corrosion. The method comprises generating an acid catalysed sol-gel which is combined with a polyaniline solution before coating onto a metal substrate. The coating is then cured and optionally activated by subjecting the coating to alkaline conditions. The resultant metal substrate coating comprises an inter-mediate layer having a composition resultant from the reaction of the sol-gel layer with the substrate such that the sol-gel coating is chemically bonded to the substrate via the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method of preparing a substrate using a sol-gel derived coating incorporating a microorganism. The coating is configured to inhibit microbial induced corrosion (MIC) and/or biofouling at the substrate-coating interface. The coating is prepared by mixing a sol with a suspension comprising the microorganism, applying the mixture onto a substrate followed by curing such that the resultant coating is chemically bonded to the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate (100) comprising a sol-gel derived coating (101). The coating, is chemically bonded to the substrate (100) and is derived from a polysiloxane to form a network of silicon-carbon and silicon-oxygen bonds. An antimicrobial is releasably captured within the network and is capable of defusing from the coating in vivo in response to introduction of a fluid into the coating.