Top Five Hot Spots for R&D and Application in Industrial Coatings Industry
In 2007, the share of industrial coatings within China's paint industry began to grow steadily. Looking ahead, research and development efforts in the sector are expected to focus on five key areas: anti-corrosion coatings, coil coatings, functional coatings, powder coatings, and waterborne wood coatings, with a particular emphasis on anti-corrosion solutions.
Anti-corrosion coatings cover a range of applications, including protection for metal structures, marine facilities, ships, and containers. As the market expands, China has become a highly competitive arena for global paint giants. For instance, Jotun opened a state-of-the-art production plant in Zhangjiagang and established an R&D center for anti-corrosion coatings in Kunshan. Meanwhile, Japan’s Zhongtu Chemical built a 100,000-ton-per-year anti-corrosive paint factory in Shanghai, while the Changzhou Paint & Chemical Research Institute set up key laboratories for corrosion protection. Major international players like Bayer MaterialScience, AkzoNobel, PPG, Sherwin-Williams, and Haihong Elders also showcased their latest products at the ASIACOAT Coatings Fair, signaling their strong interest in the Chinese market.
In recent years, the use of colored steel plates in China’s construction sector has surged, fueling demand for coil coatings. Although the sector previously faced overcapacity and chaotic competition, it has since experienced rational development, with sales surpassing 100,000 tons. The high-quality, high-price strategy has gained market acceptance. Innovations such as fluorocarbon coil coatings, highly durable options, self-cleaning varieties, and those with excellent processing performance have become hot R&D topics, with several types already entering industrial production.
As China moves toward a more sustainable and harmonious society, energy-saving and reflective coatings for exterior walls have emerged as important R&D areas. Functional coatings, especially nano-composite materials, are gaining momentum. Nano-transparent heat insulation coatings are becoming popular in energy-efficient and eco-friendly applications, while nano-composite interior wall coatings offer antibacterial properties, odor control, and formaldehyde-free benefits—making them ideal for home improvement projects. Many companies in Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, and Guangdong have filed patents and developed commercial products in this field.
China’s powder coating industry produces over 500,000 tons annually, ranking second globally. The raw material supply chain has become increasingly self-sufficient, with resins, leveling agents, matting agents, brighteners, and other additives reaching levels comparable to foreign counterparts. In the future, powder coatings will expand beyond home appliances into sectors like automotive, pipelines, shipbuilding, and construction materials. Industry experts from the China Epoxy Resin Industry Association highlight that new types, such as UV-curing, double-layer epoxy, and heat-resistant conductive powder coatings, are attracting significant attention.
Additionally, China is a leading producer of wood furniture and furniture coatings (wood lacquers). With stricter environmental regulations, waterborne wood coatings have become a major R&D focus. Water-based polyurethane coatings are now the mainstream, with many industrialized products available. Their performance is close to that of solvent-based coatings, making them a popular choice in both home improvement and construction renovation sectors, with strong environmental benefits.
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