Industrial paints are pigmented liquids or powders that are used to protect and/or beautify substrates. They typically include a resin, a solvent, additives, pigments and, in some cases, a diluent. Solvent-based paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the carrier. Water-based paints contain mostly water, but also chemicals such as glycol ethers and alcohols as the carrier. Some industrial paints are applied with brushes or rollers. Others are applied with spray systems. Colors vary widely and include black, blue, brown, gray, green, orange, purple, red, white, and yellow. Primers and finishes such as flat, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss are available. Substrates for industrial paints include asphalt, ceramic, concrete and masonry, fabric and fiber, fiberglass, glass, graphic, metal, paper and paperboard, plastic, rubber and elastomer, and wood. 

Industrial paints vary widely in terms of chemistry. Acrylic, a synthetic resin used in high-performance latex or water-based paints, is suitable for bonding metal, oily surfaces, glass, ferrite, and plastics. Epoxy paints, which are used almost exclusively in aircraft components, are more resistant to environmental degradation than resins such as alkyds, which are typically used only in trim paints. Polyester resins are typically unsaturated and used in marine applications. Polyurethane paints include a tough, rubber-like elastomer that is based on the condensation of organic isocyanates with resins containing hydroxyl groups. Inorganic or silicate paints use titanium dioxide as an extender pigment. Other industrial paints use polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a family of engineering plastics that is characterized by high thermal stability, almost universal chemical resistance, and low friction. 

Specifications for industrial paints include coverage, VOC content, pot life, viscosity, and specific gravity. Coverage is the substrate area that industrial paints can cover at a specific thickness. VOC content is limited by government regulation and represents the amount of evaporation of carbon compounds under test conditions. Pot life is the amount of time between the mixing stage and the gel stage in which industrial paints remain usable in a pot at 77° F. Viscosity measures an industrial paint’s resistance to flow. Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of the coating to the density of the water at a specified temperature. 

Industrial paints are available with a variety of special features. Some are anti-static or conductive. Others are heat resistant, fire retardant, or designed to withstand high temperatures. Elastomeric industrial paints are suitable for substrates that are stretched to twice their original size and then returned to their original dimensions. Electroresistive paints include both conductive and nonconductive materials. Rust preventive, waterproof, water repellant, and interior and exterior paints are also available. In terms of applications, industrial paints are used in the aerospace, architectural and construction, automotive, and electronics industries. They are also used in marine, medical, military, optical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and textile applications.