Recent Trends and Task Priorities in Coatings Technology

Abstract

The human intelligences has created a variety of chemical substances which have greatly contributed to the well-being of the human race. Today's coatings consist of many of these chemical substances in combination. There are probably no less than several thousant kinds of raw materials for coatings with natural and synthetic materials combined. While the accelerated technological progress in the past history greatly improved the human living standard, it has now come to adversely affect the earth environment. A lot of probrems have been recognized, such as air and water pollution by chemical substances, serious effects on forest and lakes by acid rain, destruction of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons, global warming caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, etc.
Coatings have been used from olden times in every aspect of the people's lives.The fundamantal function of coatings lies in protection and decoration. Coatings protect substances and helps to make them last longer thus contributing to the conservation of natural resources. Decorating the substances have brought about the bright and cheerful living environment. Coatings themselves have, on the other hand, a characteristic which causes environmental pollution. For coatings chemists, to develop technologies which could reduce environmental pollution is a major subject.
Coatings are used in numerous fields in society. They have been expanding their scale along with social development and, more especially, with industrial development. Technological developments have been made to satisfy various social requirements in each period of time.
Current requirements for coatings can be sorted out into the following items.
(1) Environmental protection and energy saving.
(2) Higher quality of coatings film, better appearance and design.
(3) New technology coatings with additional functions.