functionalities that researchers can tap for further study. Bio-based additives specifically designed for incorporation into
architectural, special purpose or OEM coatings will have performance characteristics tailored to help solve unique problems faced by many different market sectors that traditional
technology has not yet been able to address.
Because bioengineered additives can be designed to perform under a variety of conditions, market opportunities are
expanded to non-traditional applications as well. Some possibilities for antimicrobial additives may include consumer
electronics, as well as seed, paper and roof coatings. Bio-based
marine antifoulants, because they present no danger to the
environment, could lead to increased used of antifoulant coatings and displacement of other non-coating technologies.
Hospitals, clinics, schools, child care centers, airports and
many other public service locations where use of toxic biocides is prohibited would be ideal end users for coatings with
natural, safe antimicrobial and antiviral capabilities.
These end-use markets, plus others such as the automotive,
furniture and appliance, textile and restaurant industries,
would also be ideal targets for self-cleaning and self-deodorizing coatings. Decontamination coatings have endless potential
in military applications, from uniforms to sensitive equipment,
as well as for the protection of first responders and other emergency personnel. Self-repairing coatings provide numerous
possibilities in high performance applications, particularly
where a substandard protective coating can lead to serious surface damage and possible structural failure (aerospace, automotive, process industries, etc.). There are also applications for
functional coatings in the pharmaceutical (tablet/capsule coatings, disposable production equipment, clean rooms), medical
device, and food packaging industries.
CAN THE PAINT & COATINGS INDUSTRY
REVITALIZE & REPOSITION ITSELF?
The tremendous opportunities presented by functional bioengineered additives open the door for the paint and coatings
industry to reposition itself as a provider of high performance
specialty materials. Paints will no longer be seen as inactive
surface coverings, but as novel and efficient tools for preventing or solving problems facing consumers and industrial
users of coatings. Acceptance of this concept will take some
time. But perhaps much less time than might otherwise be
anticipated in a consumer environment where rapidly changing product capability is wholly-embraced. Eventually purchasers of paints and coatings will turn to functional formulations as they turn to cell phones, hand-held calculators and
laptop computers today for increasingly novel solutions to
problems encountered in day-to-day living.
If history is any guide, perhaps we should look at other step
changes that decommoditized an industry, and none is better
than pre-digital electronics. Mechanical calculators—adding
machines—were used throughout the first half of the twenti-
eth century. 15 By 1948 models existed that could do multiplica-
tion division and square roots as well as addition and subtrac-
tion. 16 The first handheld electronic calculator was introduced
by Texas Instruments in 1967, and was shortly followed by
truly portable “pocket” calculators in wide use by the late
1970s, when they became affordable. 17
LOG ON, LEARN MORE COATINGSWORLD.COM
For a complete list of references log onto the online version of this story at
www.coatingsworld.com.
Coming next month in Part II
“Formulating with Bioengineered Additives: Increasing the
Performance and Functionality of Paints and Coatings”
Abstract: Carefully engineered, high performance bio-based additives with ighly specific activities can add unique functionality to paints and coatings and dramatically increase their value. All of these additives are biodegradable, produced via green manufacturing processes, work under mild conditions and o not create harmful by-products. In addition, extensive research and testing has been conducted to ensure that bioengineered materials specifically tar- geted for use in paints and coatings can be readily incorporated into a variety of formulations and will perform as expected in applied films.
