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Polyurethane resins are produced by the reacting polyalcohol and an organic di-isocyanate. Polyurethane resins are extensively used in applications such as surface coatings, footwear, furniture and packaging. Polyurethane resin paints are characterized by properties such as high durability, toughness, easy cleaning and high gloss. Owing to these properties, polyurethane resin paints finds wide spread applications across the globe. Polyurethane resin paints are also used where high performance is expected, in applications such as oil-rig towers, warehouses, industrial plants, heat resistant coatings, bridges etc.

Propylene glycol, also known as 1,2-propane-diol, is a multifunctional chemical used in several industrial fields, pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. Conventionally, it is obtained from petroleum based feedstock for industrial scale production. Recent developments have uncovered a new technique for obtaining propylene glycol from corn starch. The process involves production of carbohydrates from starch.

Polyvinyl Chloride generally known as PVC is a polymer which is widely produced after polyethylene and polypropylene. It is said to be the third largest most widely produced polymer. PVC is preferred against traditional materials that include iron, copper or wood in a number of profile applications due to its operational efficiencies and benefits. Pure polyvinyl chloride is a brittle solid white in color and slightly soluble in tetrahydrofuran whereas insoluble in alcohol. It can be made flexible and soft by adding plasticizers and phthalates. In flexible and soft form, PVC is used in electrical cable insulation, plumbing and inflatable products and some applications which can replace rubber. PVC has high mechanical and hardness properties, which enhance along with molecular weight and gradually decrease with rising or increasing temperature. PVC decomposes at high temperature as its heat stability is very poor. It has good insulation properties but owing to its high polar nature, its electrical insulation property is less significant to non-polymers that include polypropylene and polyethylene.

Polyvinylidene fluoride, also known as polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), is a specialty plastic material belonging to the fluoropolymer family. It is a pure thermoplastic and highly non-reactive fluoropolymer which is produced by the polymerization of vinylidene difluoride. PVDF is primarily used in applications which require high resistance, strength and purity to solvents, bases, acids and heat. It is also used as an important ingredient in high-end paints for metal roofing in commercial and residential applications. Membranes of PVDF are widely consumed for the purpose of immobilizing proteins owing to its resemblance to amino acids. PVDF is also used extensively in sheets, films, membranes and coatings in various end-user industries such as chemical processing, oil & gas, construction and energy.

Barite is a mineral that is rich in barium. Barite commonly occurs in the large number of depositional environment and it is found in the zinc-lead veins in limestone, in the hot spring deposits and in the hematite ore. Barite is also found alongside meteorites. Barite is relatively inert and also exhibits a physical property of high density. Barite is widely used as a weighting agent in the drilling muds. Barite also finds other applications in the electrical and electronics, rubber, ceramics, paints radiation shielding, medical and glass industry among others. China, India, Morocco and U.S. are expected to be the largest producers of barite. The total barite resources across the globe in all categories are around 2 billion tons, however, only 740 million tons is considered among the identified resources.

Polyurethanes are manufactured from reaction of polyols (polyester, polyether polyols) with polyisocynates such as MDI and TDI. In case of PU coatings, polyols are first converted to stock coatings and are then mixed with polyisocynates cross linker before processing thus offering two component system. The properties of the coatings can be adjusted according to polyol used in manufacturing and crosslinker selected. Polyurethane coatings offer various characteristics such as high performance coatings with low temperature curing, excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance, high flexibility, higher durability, pleasing optical properties and good weathering features. Polyurethane coatings are one of the emerging sectors in global paints and coatings industry. In spite of these features, the cost associated with PU coatings is higher as compared to other coatings available in the market. On the basis of formulations, the market for PU coatings is divided as PU water borne coatings, PU solvent borne coatings, PU powder coatings and PU high solids coatings among others. PU solvent borne coatings had the largest market share in PU coatings market however, there is likely to be more demand for PU waterborne coatings in near future owing to lower VOC content.

Advanced functional materials offer a huge scope for study, as its horizon encompasses a wide range of products and applications across industries. Functional materials are generally considered to be materials which posses some native functional properties, and not materials with just load bearing capabilities. The advanced functional materials can be segmented by product types into: advanced functional ceramics, advanced functional composites, nano materials, advanced energy materials, and conductive polymers among others. These functional materials find applications in a host of end user applications.

Adsorption is a process in which ions, atoms or molecules from a liquid, dissolved liquid or gas adheres to a surface. In this process a thin film is created on the adsorbent by the adsorbate. Adsorption is a consequence of surface energy similar to surface tension. Adsorption exists in many natural, biological, chemical and physical systems that have applications in the industrial sector. Adsorbents are usually in the form of rods, spherical pellets and moldings that has 0.5 to 10mm diameter. Adsorbents that are regarded to be effective must have resistance to high abrasion, thermal stability with small pore diameters and must have a distinct pore structure which helps in speedy transport of gaseous vapours. Industrial adsorbents are classified as carbon based compounds that are non-polar and hydrophobic that includes materials such as graphite and activated carbon; oxygen containing compounds that are polar and hydrophilic including material such as zeolites and silica gel; polymer-based compounds which are non-polar or polar functional groups in a polymer matrix.

Wood coatings refer to the process of refining or protecting a wooden surface, especially in the production of furniture. Wood coating applications include: interior wood, small furniture, panels, tables, cupboards, chairs, office furniture, kitchen furniture, doors and staircases among others. There are generally three types of wood coating: evaporative, reactive and coalescing. Wood coating starts with sanding either by hand or scraping. Imperfections or nail holes on the surface may be filled using wood filler. Often, the wood's color is changed by staining, bleaching, or any other techniques. Once the wood surface is prepared and stained, the coating is applied. It usually consists of several coats of shellac, drying oil, paint, wax or lacquer. Finally, the surface may be polished using wool, steel, rotten stone or other materials, depending on the shine desired. In addition, a final coat of wax is applied over the finish to add a degree of protection.

Acrylic paints are quick drying paints containing pigment in a acrylic polymer emulsion. These paints are water-soluble but when dry they become water resistant. The completed acrylic painting can bear resemblance to a watercolor or an oil painting, depending on how quantity of pain that has been diluted in water or if the paint is modified with acrylic gels, media or pastes. Acrylic paints have their own unique and beautiful characteristics, which cannot be attained with any other media. The removal of acrylic paints from a surface once dry is very difficult but the use of a solvent may result in the removal of all the paint layers. The demand for acrylic paints is much higher than oil paints in the market due to the versatility offered by acrylic paints.