Protective coatings: “Growing trend toward environmentally-friendly, sustainable coatings”
Peter Greenwood, technical development manager for Inorganic Specialties at Nouryon, shares his insight into the protective coatings sector and more sustainable solutions.
What are the latest technical trends for protective coatings, and how are they influencing the industry?
Peter Greenwood: We see a growing trend toward environmentally friendly, sustainable coatings. This includes the use of waterborne coatings, which have lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to solvent-based coatings. They also contribute less to air pollution and are generally safer to handle. The phase-out of hexavalent chromium and focus on chromium-free coatings has also led to increased development of chromium-free corrosion resistant coatings. Small particles like colloidal silica are used to create waterborne coatings with improved properties such as increased hardness, better adhesion, and improved corrosion resistance.
How are advancements in protective coatings contributing to sustainability goals, reducing environmental impact, and extending the lifespan of assets?
Greenwood: From a sustainability point of view, the aim is to extend the lifespan of the material that the surface protection is intended to protect. The material delivering good protection without degrading the properties, or even improving its appearance and lifetime, will meet future demand of protective coatings. There are many substrates and technologies, and therefore it is likely that there will be multiple solutions addressing these issues. We believe that colloidal silica in waterborne systems will play an important role. In combination with other chemicals, strong synergistic effects on the coatings performance can be achieved in almost all systems that are under review and in need of a technology shift.
The development of waterborne coatings has led to a reduction in the use of solvents, which are a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Besides improving corrosion resistance, some protective coatings, especially in the building and construction sector, have insulating properties or can reflect heat, helping to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. This can contribute to a significant reduction in energy use and associated CO2 emissions.
Are there any specific eco-friendly or bio-based materials gaining traction in the protective coatings market?
Peter Greenwood: Colloidal silica is an environmentally friendly product. Another area that is receiving increased attention due to its excellent adhesion, corrosion resistance, and low curing temperature is sol-gel chemistry based (hybrid inorganic/organic) coatings.
Event tip
Peter Greenwood will give a presentation titled “The versatile role of colloidal silica in sustainable surface protection” at the European Coatings Conference High-end anti-corrosion coatings on February 25 to 26, 2025 in Dusseldorf, Germany. At the conference, experts will share the latest advances, breakthroughs and trends in the field of anti-corrosive coatings.
