Paints and coatings are materials applied to surfaces for the purpose of coloring, decorating, or protecting them. In general, they are viscous fluids with characteristic colors, drying times and flow properties which are determined by formulation. They include products such as lacquer, varnish, and specialty coatings designed for architectural, commercial and industrial applications. Used by humans for centuries, paints and coatings technology has steadily improved over the years. Today, it represents a multibillion dollar industry.

The earliest evidence of the use of paint is cave paintings in Europe which demonstrate that people have been using paint for at least 30,000 years. Paint and coating use in the Middle East dates back over 10,000 years ago. They used various materials such as lime, copper, silica, iron oxides, and chalk to produce numerous colors. They also used resins from milk casein and plant sap. Crude varnishes and lacquers...