Coatings (paint)

Coatings production in The United States can be roughly divided into two major segments; architectural/decorative paints and industrial coatings and paints. Based on annual statistics for the year ended 2004, architectural and decorative paints account for approximately 52% of production, with industrial coatings comprising 48% of output. The industrial coatings are usually formulated and produced for specific end-user needs. The processing line, from raw materials to the end user is relatively straightforward and manufacturers sell a small proportion of their product, direct to the end user through retail outlets.

The most significant trend over the past 20 years for both architectural and industrial coatings has been the growth of water based paints and the decline of solvent based paint production. Recent statistics show binding paints split 23% solvent and 77% water based. It is expected that far greater use of water based technologies in industrial applications (industrial coatings) will occur in the future due to convenience of use and environmental and health and safety considerations. Although technical innovation in any science-based industry is slow and continuous, it is possible to detect some significant new trends that have manifested themselves over the last few years when it comes to industrial coatings.

These have affected both materials and methods of application. These changes can be considered a natural evolution for the industry, from being based originally on naturally occurring materials (such as oleo resinous varnishes and enamels and the nitre-cellulocics) through the synthetic resins (such as alkyds and acrylics) to the plethora of types that are currently in use. One surface coating that is relatively new and growing at 5-8% per annum, is powder coating. Many segments of the market, mostly automotive coatings are heavily affected by economic cyclic activity. Marine paint growth rates have remained virtually static since 1980 and there has been a decline in the demand of industrial coatings for wood stains since 1970.

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