Meeting the challenge of radical change: Coatings R&D as we enter the 21st century

The coating industry has only occasionally been presented with the challenges and opportunities which either bring about, or proceed from, radical change-the advent of latex house paints, powder coatings and electrodeposition have been among the very few. Today, however, the coatings R&D community is blessed/cursed with a large variety of potential technology approaches, any of which-solid paint, solventless liquids, energy-curing systems, the use of nanotechnology or combinatorial chemistry, et al.-might lead to paradigm-shifting products and processes. It is easy to envision a future in which painted metal might replace asphalt shingles, clay tiles, and other common roofing materials widely used on residential roofing, and the automotive industry is clearly willing to explore coil-applied alternatives to its current painting practices. Taking advantage of the opportunities implicit in these new technologies, processes, and markets which are on the horizon will, however, require both new approaches to early performance prediction and also a renewed commitment to-and funding of-R&D within the global coatings community.