Architectural coatings: “Need for increased durability”
Ravi Ravichandran, chief scientist and co-founder of Amindon shares his perspective on the architectural coatings segment. Interview by Bettina Hoffmann
What are current trends influencing architectural coatings?
Ravi Ravichandran: During the pandemic, the percentage of painting done by Do-it-Yourselfers (DIY) versus professional painters increased, reversing a longstanding trend. However, after the pandemic, higher inflation and rising interest rates have led to lower home sales. As a result, the DIY segment is shrinking, and homeowners are postponing DIY and remodeling projects primarily because of material prices and budget concerns. Demand for professional painting has increased as workers return to the workplace and office space renovations are needed.
We are seeing a shift from solvent-based coatings to safer options such as waterborne and powder coatings, driven by the need for environmentally friendly products. Sustainability has become one of the leading trends in the coatings industry in recent years, with the development of resins with increasing bio-content. New innovations, including self-cleaning hydrophobic coatings useful in architectural applications, and the onset of the pandemic triggered the development of antimicrobial coatings.
On what technical aspects is your R&D work focused?
Ravichandran: As technology changes and the need for increased durability increases, our R&D will continue to focus on providing solutions. For example, light stabilisation will be a primary focus for exterior architectural coatings to extend the life of residential and commercial buildings. We have developed a waterborne, non-migrating light stabiliser blend containing both HALS and UVA components to improve the durability of waterborne resin systems. In addition, we will focus on increasing the demand for sustainable additive candidates, leading to more innovative and cost-effective solutions while maintaining performance attributes.
Where do you see the biggest growth potential for architectural coatings?
Ravichandran: Asia Pacific accounts for the largest share of the global architectural coatings market, with China and India emerging as the largest markets. The APAC region, with its growing middle-income group and changing demographics, has contributed to the increasing demand for architectural coatings in the residential and commercial sectors, both of which are poised for growth. Environmentally friendly and energy efficient coatings will have the highest growth potential due to the increasing global shift toward sustainability.
Reading tip
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