COATINGS

Coatings production in The United States can be broadly divided into two major segments; architectural/decorative paints and industrial paints and coatings. Based on annual statistics for the year ended 2004, architectural and decorative paints account for approximately 52% of production, with industrial paints and coating comprising 48% of output. The industrial coatings are usually formulated and produced for specific needs. The processing line, from raw materials to the end user is relatively straightforward. 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 has been the growth of water based paints and the decline of solvent based paint production. The latest 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 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. These have affected materials and methods of application. These changes can be considered as a natural evolution of 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 in current use.

The present stage of evolution of the coatings industry began in the early 1960s, primarily as a result of increased concerns over the impact of certain chemicals on the environment, notably the effects of solvent emissions which accelerated a trend towards the development of water-based and other types of coatings able to meet various statutory requirements.