In recent years, as coating formulators have worked to develop paint systems
with enhanced performance, two global market drivers have impacted the success
of new product introductions more than any incremental performance improvement:
reduced VOC and cost. With the rising price of the primary feedstock (oil) for
many coatings ingredients, compliance with environmental regulations has become
not only a government requirement, but also an economic imperative. Reducing
the cost of a coating unit is one means to improve market viability, but
greater opportunities exist to reduce total end-user costs during the life
cycle of the paint. Costs associated with process shutdowns, surface
preparation, paint application and waste disposal often outweigh the price of
the paint. In response to these market realities, silicone-organic hybrid
coatings have risen from a niche technology to become an established market segment
and a vital area of technology investment for the protective coatings industry.
Variations of the technology are commercially available around the world and
provide benefits including reduction in labor cost, overspray, emissions and
required film-build as well as long-term performance exceeding that of the
industry standard of 2K urethane systems.1,2