Architectural coatings continue to lead the
coating segment with sales of $9.5 billion in 2006. Original equipment
manufacturers (OEM) consumed $8.6 billion of coatings and the special purpose
segment $5.7 billion. Regulations continue to drive developments in coating
technology, particularly in the architectural and special purpose coating
segments. Recent state regulations, and those under development, are forcing
increased usage of low-VOC coatings for some applications. Solvents that have
low-ozone-forming potential are being promoted as a means of reducing
smog.
The top six resin technologies
combined represented about 85% of the coating sales in 2006. Acrylics are the
leading coating type, capturing about one-quarter of the sales dollars in 2006.
Acrylics are well established in both water- and solvent-based coating
technologies. Vinyl acrylics follow with one-fifth of the value, nearly all in
water-based formulations. Polyurethanes are higher performance coatings that
have grown somewhat faster than the other large-volume coating types. Alkyds
are primarily solvent-based, but water-based versions have grown in usage.
Solvent-based alkyds are increasingly being challenged by new VOC regulations.
Resins are the largest volume and value component of coatings.