Graphene Paints: introduction and market status

What is paint?

Paint is regarded as a liquid that, once applied to a substrate, converts to a solid film. Paint is used in almost all industries, from construction to art, for many purposes, like decoration, protection, identification and sanitation of objects. Paint can be made in many colors and in many different types, such as watercolor, synthetic, etc.

Paints typically consist of pigments/fillers, binders, solvent and additives.

• Pigments are granular solids incorporated in the paint to contribute color. Fillers are granular solids added for the purpose of giving toughness, texture and other special properties, or to reduce the cost of the paint. Alternatively, some paints contain dyes instead of or in combination with pigments. Pigments usually divide into two group: Prime Pigments - that include pigments like Titanium Dioxide (white), Chrome Green Oxide, Yellow and Red Iron Oxides, etc. and Extender Pigments - that include Calcite (Calcium Carbonate), Talc (Magnesium Silicate), Mica, Barytes (Barium Sulphate), etc.
• Binders are the film-forming components of paint. It is the one component necessary for the functionality of paint, which also imparts properties like durability, texture, flexibility and more. Binders include synthetic or natural resins such as alkyds, acrylics, vinyl-acrylics, vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE), polyurethanes, polyesters, melamine resins, epoxy, or oils.
• Solvents act as a carrier for the pigments and binders. They also adjust the viscosity of the paint and control flow and application properties. Solvents are volatile substances that impart their properties temporarily and once the solvent has evaporated, the remaining paint is fixed to the surface. Water is usually used as the diluent in waterborne paints, and oil-based paints (also referred to as solvent-borne) may use various combinations of organic solvents as the diluent, including aliphatics, aromatics, alcohols, ketones and more.
• Additives enhance certain properties such as ease of brushing, mold resistance, pigment stability, control foaming, scuff resistance, drying and sag resistance. A wide variety of additives exists, and they are usually added in small amounts (but have a significant effect on the product).

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single, tightly packed layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. It is the thinnest compound known to man at one atom thick, the lightest material known, the strongest compound discovered, the best conductor of heat at room temperature and also the best conductor of electricity known. It also has unique optical properties while being transparent and light.

From the minute single-layer graphene burst onto the science scene, the possibilities for the promising material have seemed nearly endless. Its multitude of extraordinary properties won it the name "wonder material" and scientists believe it has the potential to truly revolutionize entire fields like electronics, energy, medicine and more.

Graphene and paints

Graphene's myriad of exceptional qualities can open the door to many interesting types of paints and coatings. Graphene's high resistivity can make for durable coatings that do not crack and are resistant to water and oil, its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity can be used to make various conductive paints, and a strong barrier effect can contribute to extraordinary anti-oxidant, scratch-resistant and anti-UVA paints.

Graphene enables a wide array of functional paints, for many possible applications. Among these can be high performance adhesives enabled by graphene's high adhesion property, anti-bacterial coatings, solar paints (capable of absorbing solar energy and transmitting it), paints that provide isolation for houses, anti-rust coatings, anti-fog paints and UV ray blockers, non-stick coatings for various domestic applications (like frying pans and countertops) and even a much-hyped possibility (currently under scientific examination) of a coating that turns a regular wall into a screen.

Further reading

• Introduction to graphene
• Graphene company database
• How to invest in the graphene revolution
• The Graphene Handbook, our very own guide to the graphene market