Guess what! Climate change is coming for paint

Tougher coatings could stop civilisation from crumbling

Photo by Mat Sheard.

Higher temperatures. Rising sea levels. Increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. These consequences of climate change threaten humanity with all manner of havoc – and not even paint is safe.

“Anything that is out in the sea is naturally under a very corrosive environment,” says Andy Hopkinson, managing director at Safinah Group, which helps other firms investigate problems that occur with paints and coatings.

“As temperature increases, the corrosion rate increases,” he adds. Wind turbines need paint. So do giant ships. It helps stop them crumbling into heaps of rust. But a rising risk of corrosion is just one reason why researchers and paint companies are already working on tougher coatings fit for the future.