Self‐stratifying coatings for industrial applications

This paper reviews the self‐stratifying coatings concept, which is a tool to formulate film‐forming compositions based on incompatible polymer blends capable of producing coatings having polymer/polymer composite structures and outstanding performance in a number of application fields. The self‐stratifying concept is applicable to waterborne, solvent‐based and powder coatings, requiring specific formulations and frequently also conditions of application and film formation. Micro‐heterogeneous and non‐homogeneous‐in‐layer (or ultimately double‐layer) film structures obtained by one‐coat application of a single coating composition render considerable enhancement in coatings properties (mechanical, protective etc.) particularly various surface/interfacial properties (e.g. scratch‐resistance, mar‐resistance and adhesion durability, etc.).