CEH Report

Table of Contents

Abstract

Urethane coatings have been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the worldwide paint and coatings industry. Despite relatively high cost, their excellent durability, resistance to corrosion and abrasion, pleasing optical properties and flexibility make urethane coatings suitable for a range of high-performance applications. Urethanes are also finding greater appeal in recent years because of the ability to formulate coatings with lower organic solvent contents. From 1994 through 2006, global consumption of urethane coatings for industrial use grew by about 3.5% per year on average, while consumption of all resins for coatings grew by about 2.3% per year. However, urethanes experienced some decline in 2008–2009 as a result of the global slump, especially in North America and Western Europe. There has been some recovery in 2010 from the exceptionally poor 2009. Future consumption of urethane coatings will likely be in the 4–5% per year range, while the total coatings market will grow at about 3–4% annually.

Most consumption of urethane coatings (roughly 90%) is in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and China; growth in the future will be highest in China and the Rest of the World category. Certain markets are dominant in the three major industrialized regions, including automotive refinishes, wood finishes and high-performance anticorrosive coatings. The fastest-growing market for urethanes in the 1990s was automotive OEM clear coat finishes, but penetration has slowed in recent years. Urethane clear coats now account for 25% of the topcoat market in Europe and 10–12% in North America. In Japan, only small amounts of urethane formulations are now used for topcoats. In addition to the high cost of urethanes, environmental and regulatory pressures in Japan have not forced a switch away from the conventional solventborne low-solids acrylics in clear coat applications. Also, in Europe, wood product finishing is much more important than in the United States, but urethane powder coatings are more significant in the United States.

The following pie chart shows world consumption of urethane surface coatings:

In the Rest of the World category, one of the major uses for polyurethane coatings is for textile coatings; about half of the total volume is consumed in East Asia. Consumption of urethane coatings has grown in China at a rapid pace because of the rising demand for automotive refinishes and industrial, plastic and anticorrosion coatings. The largest end use for urethane coatings is for wood floors and wood coatings, which account for about 65% of total consumption. Most of these coatings are based on TDI isocyanates. Another large market is wire enamels, where MDI isocyanates are used.