Why paints and coatings

Paints and coatings are not useful products by themselves, but they make other products better, more durable, more attractive, safer, and more saleable. Paints and coatings are therefore considered enabling materials that add value to manufactured products. Think of a car without paint on it, or your nice teakwood furniture without a finish. Thin coats of paint, coating, or varnish bring life to these products and make them acceptable and durable. 

In general, paints and coatings are used for three primary reasons  

Mannari, C.J. Patel Understanding Raw Materials Copyright 2015 by Vincentz Network, Hanover, Germany ISBN 978-3-86630-603-5 

Many coatings satisfy more than one of the above reasons. 

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This example of corrosion provides a general reason why paint and coatings of various kinds are only a partial answer to the corrosion-prevention problem. They often tend to develop cracks or pinholes, and these exposed spots provide access to oxygen for the electronation reaction, which results in unseen corrosion of the surrounding areas. 

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