Coatings update: Alkyd resin Technology

Alkyd resins are—and undoubtedly will continue to be—the mainstay of the protective coatings industry. In 1970 one estimate indicated that 680 million pounds of alkyd resins with a value of 180 million dollars were utilised by the paint industry. Thus alkyd resin usage was far ahead of the next contender, vinyl resins. These, which find important application in water‐based paints were utilised to the extent of 300 million pounds worth about ninety million dollars. Altogether 1.67 billion pounds of synthetic resins were utilised and these were worth 530 million dollars. Thus alkyd resins accounted for about 41 per cent of the total synthetic resin volume and 34 per cent of the dollar value.