Smart Paints – Brushing Up the Built Environment

Paints are not just for decoration. As well as improving aesthetics, they are also the first line of defence against moisture, sunlight, and pollutants. As such, paints are integral to the longevity and safety of the built environment.

Engineered with advanced functionalities, “smart paints” go beyond passive protection. Rather than simply shielding materials from the elements, these coatings open up new opportunities in performance and sustainability. This blog explores some of the key innovations in this space that can be used to optimise the built environment.

Keeping their cool

One rapidly developing area is radiative-cooling paints. These are coatings that reflect incoming solar radiation while simultaneously emitting heat from the building. The result is a surface that can remain cooler than its surroundings, reducing demand on fuel-powered air conditioning systems.

An example is a collaboration between the University of Sydney and start-up Dewpoint Innovations which yielded “a porous polymer coating that reflects up to 97 % of sunlight and radiates heat into the air, keeping surfaces up to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air even under direct sun”. Furthermore, the coating also creates ideal conditions for water condensation, facilitating the harvesting of atmospheric water.

Chameleon coatings

Another innovative coating is one designed to actively respond to environmental changes. Inspired by mood rings, designer Joe Doucet developed a climate-responsive paint that changes colour with temperature. The thermochromic coating appears darker when temperatures are low, absorbing heat to warm the building. As the temperature rises above 15°C, the paint gradually lightens, reflecting heat and helping to keep the building cool.

Smooth sailing

With over 80% of goods transported by sea, maritime shipping is a crucial component of the global economy. And so, it’s perhaps no surprise that the shipping industry accounts for around 5 % of global oil consumption.

Fuel efficiency in maritime transportation is therefore central to sustainable shipping. However, a significant factor undermining fuel efficiency is drag. It turns out that the underside of a ship is a breeding ground for slime – a biofilm of bacteria and algae. Slime build up on a ship’s hull results in a rough surface that increases drag with “even light slime [increasing] fuel consumption by up to 20%”. How to prevent this unwanted hitchhiker? The answer lies in the hull’s coating.

One slime-buster dating back to 1996 is AkzoNobel’s Intersleek, the first patented biocide-free coating. Which, according to AkzoNobel’s inhouse calculations, has saved over $3 billion dollars in fuel costs. Fast forward to modern day, the latest iteration – Intersleek 1100SR – includes a new patented fluoropolymer that further resists the adhesion of slime. And with AkzoNobel’s proactive PFAS audits and the emergence of its silicone‑based B‑Free technology for recreational vessels, it’s tempting to ask what future directions anti-foul coatings like Intersleek might explore next.

Another maritime‑focused innovation is a collaboration between AkzoNobel and Sparc Technologies. Building on its long‑established Interzone® 954 protective coating for marine environments – such as offshore oil and gas facilities, offshore wind towers, jetties, and sluice gates – AkzoNobel has introduced a graphene‑enhanced version incorporating Sparc’s ecosparc® additive. After extensive laboratory testing and field trials in corrosive environments, the enhanced coating is now being offered commercially in Australia, highlighting the growing role of advanced carbon materials in extending the durability of critical maritime infrastructure.

Catalytic coatings

One of the more established examples of “smart” paint technology is photocatalytic coatings, which use light to trigger chemical reactions that help remove pollutants from the air. These paints typically contain titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a well‑known photocatalyst that becomes chemically active when exposed to daylight.

When light strikes a TiO₂‑containing surface, it can initiate reactions that convert common urban pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds including formaldehyde into less harmful substances, such as nitrates. These reaction products are water‑soluble and can be gradually washed away by rain, while the titanium dioxide itself is not consumed in the process and continues to function over the lifetime of the coating.

Manufacturers such as KEIM have incorporated this technology into mineral façade paints designed for use in urban environments, where traffic‑related NOₓ pollution is a persistent problem. KEIM describes these coatings as effectively allowing building surfaces to function as passive catalysts, helping to break down airborne pollutants while also reducing the build‑up of organic dirt on the façade. In practical terms, this means that a painted surface can contribute – albeit modestly – to improved local air quality while maintaining a cleaner appearance over time.

Paints with purpose

Smart paints are redefining the possibilities of the built environment, moving far beyond simple decoration and protection. As research and development continue to unlock new functionalities, smart paints have the potential to play a significant role in tackling real-world challenges – from reducing energy consumption to improving air quality and supporting cleaner transport. Ripe with opportunities to shape a more sustainable and resilient built environment, the area of paints and coatings is not one to be brushed over!