Coatings are hero products, often overlooked or invisible, but essential to making everything to which they are applied last longer; perform better; and adding color and value to our world.
Coatings protect, preserve, provide, and power.
Coatings provide critical performance enhancement for our essential industries including medical equipment, communications systems, automotive, aerospace, defense, food packaging, and more.
Coatings on cans containing edible products are an indispensable component of food safety: they protect food from both bacteria in the environment and corrosion from compromised metal. Coatings on the inside lining of a can act as a barrier to prevent the food from attacking the metal, especially when food is acidic; and the coating on the outside of the can protects the can from damage due to exposure to the environment.
Coatings protect our critical infrastructure, delaying corrosion and extending the lifespan of bridges, roadways, pipelines, and more.
Unprotected steel structures in harsh environments can lose as much as 1 mm in thickness in as little as five years. This loss contributes to structural weakness, and the steel must be replaced. A thin protective coating applied to the steel can slow or delay the corrosion process and significantly extend the life of the steel by 15 or more years, even in offshore environments.
Paint and coatings add significant aesthetic value to transform and beautify our built environments. Paint colors can make a room feel calmer and more relaxed, evoke excitement and joy, or elicit a nostalgic response.
Explore The 2026 Colors Of The Year
The paint and coatings industry provides significant contributions to national, state, and global economy, including employment, manufacturing, and trade.
The $32 billion U.S. coatings industry provides 42,000 manufacturing jobs and posted a positive trade surplus of nearly $1.6 billion in 2024.
Paint and coatings are inherently sustainable— just a thin coating or layer of paint provides protection from degradation like corrosion, abrasion, high or low temperatures, chemicals and ultraviolet rays, moisture, and microbes, amongst a host of aggressive or destructive conditions, and can boost energy efficiency.
According to the National Resources Defense Council, 'smart roofs' employing cool coatings technology substantially reduce energy costs and curb carbon pollution.
The development of paint and coatings is underpinned by rigorous technological research and testing for maximum functionality and performance.
Coatings for electric and hybrid vehicles provide key performance attributes that contribute to safety and fuel efficiency. Electrically insulating coatings help control temperature for superconducting batteries and extend battery-life. And coatings systems developed for newly introduced lightweight metals and composites used by EV and hybrid automakers help with "lightweighting" to achieve better fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions. Moreover, coatings that are compatible with EV computer drivers, sensors, and communications systems are designed to be easy-to-clean, while simultaneously retaining their hydrophobic and transmissive properties.
