Nanotechnology is an emerging field that is becoming important in enabling breakthroughs of new and effective tools in the coatings industry. Nanotechnology is concerned with creating and applying structures and devices with organizational features at the intermediate size between individual molecules and about 100 nm, where unique qualities emerge in comparison to bulk materials. Nanotechnology denotes the ability to construct tailored nanostructures and devices for specific tasks through atomic and molecular control.
Coatings provide two primary functions: decoration and protection. Approximately 52% of all coatings produced globally are used to decorate and protect new construction and maintain the existing structures. Around 35% of the coatings are utilized to decorate and/or protect industrial products. The coatings sector in the United States, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific is mature and generally reflects the strength of the economy, particularly housing, building, and transportation. The major coating manufacturers are heavily investing in research and development to formulate compatible and suitable coatings for today’s aggressive environment. Many coating systems have good chemical properties but inferior weathering properties or may not have good thermal stability and mar resistance properties. Nanotechnology can fill the space in the formulation, satisfying the preceding conditions.