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Coatings protect the objects we depend on everyday. Coatings preserve our possessions, so they last longer. Coatings provide for a sustainable future. |
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Paints and coatings have long been recognized to provide both protection and aesthetic appeal. But paints and coatings aren't just inactive surface coverings. They are indispensable products that extend the useful life of everyday objects by acting as a protective barrier.
Just a thin coating or layer of paint — no more than a few thousandths of an inch — can provide 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.
While often overlooked, coatings do a tremendous job of preserving the things that are a part of our daily lives. Coatings not only preserve our cars and homes, they also preserve the bridges we drive across and the tunnels through which we travel.
Coatings help protect our environment too, in ways you wouldn't imagine. They save energy by keeping buildings cooler, play an integral part in the use of wind energy, contribute to reductions in CO2 emissions, and keep machinery out of landfills.
These environmental advances are possible because coatings perform well under varied conditions, making sustainability not only possible but efficient. High-performance coatings lead to a longer useful service life before re-application, this maximizes environmental benefits while minimizing ecological burdens.
Below are just a few examples of how coatings contribute to sustainability. Visit our interactive site to see more examples of sustainable coatings.
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WIND Coatings applied to both wind blades and towers of wind turbines play an integral role for the growing energy wind power market. Their particular adhesion and durability properties are essential to corrosion resistance in some of the harshest onshore and offshore climates. www.ppgwind.com, PPG Industries, Inc. |
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OPTICAL FIBERS Optical fiber coatings make telephone and internet technology possible by protecting the glass fibers that transmit telecommunications signals. Such technology allows an estimated 3.9 million people to telecommute, reducing gasoline consumption by 840 million gallons and CO2 emissions by almost 14 million tons. Schmid, S.R., DSM DesoTech Fiber Optic Materials, and The Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact of Telecommuting and e-Commerce, conducted by TIAX |
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BRIDGES Coatings applied to the San Mateo Bridge in Hayward, California extended the service life of the bridge by an additional 25 to 45 years. Case study courtesy of Bayer MaterialScience LLC. |
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CANS 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. Courtesy of Valspar Corporation |
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AGRICULTURE Seeds with a special coating can be planted earlier than untreated seeds, expanding the planting window, reducing processing costs and allowing growth of higher-yielding, longer-maturing hybrids. Because of this coatings technology, farmers can grow two crops at the same time in a single field, increasing productivity and improving the soil without requiring more land use. Research from Monsanto |
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ARCHITECTURAL PAINTS Many of the architectural paints on the market are low-to-no odor, contain low-to-no VOCS (volatile organic compounds) , and are formulated to meeting rigorous Green Building standards. What's more, they are often water-based, and allow for recycling or re-blending.
PQI Magazine, Fall 2007 |
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As you contemplate ACA's sustainability message, please consider sharing your company's sustainability stories with ACA by emailing us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We are eager to keep this message dynamic and highlight stories of how the industry's products contribute to sustainability. All statements are credited on our complete Source List.
Similarly, please consider incorporating this message into your communications, or link to this page.
Copyright © 2012 American Coatings Association. All Rights Reserved.