Paint Beyond Innovative Colour

Beyond Hue: The New Generation of Intelligent Wall Coatings

Paint has long been the go-to for a swift room refresh or a bold design statement. However, a new wave of innovative coatings promises far more than just a splash of colour. Companies worldwide are developing paints that offer temporary transformations, thermal insulation, and even electricity-free cooling. These advancements are poised to alter our interaction with the encompassing surfaces, transforming walls from passive backdrops into active contributors to our comfort, finances, and environmental well-being. This burgeoning field, however, navigates a landscape of high expectations, rigorous scientific scrutiny, and the practical challenges of bringing groundbreaking technology to a mass market.

Temporary Transformations: The Rise of Peelable Paint

For individuals desiring ephemeral decorative changes, such as a vibrant orange door for Halloween, a novel solution is emerging. Juan Camilo Botero, who established and heads Glasst, an innovation enterprise in Colombia, conceived Unpaint, a peelable paint. This item permits users to put on a fresh shade and subsequently, after it has dried, take it away similar to a slender membrane, ideally leaving no trace. The concept, initially met with investor scepticism, stemmed from Botero's belief in the growing public desire for customisation. Unpaint, according to Glasst, originates from a natural polymer obtained from a replenishable, arboreal supply. It entered the American market in late 2024, becoming available through major e-commerce sites. This offered a new avenue for adaptable interior design.

Expanding Markets and Eco-Conscious Removable Finishes

A principal consumer base for an item of this nature comprises individuals residing in leased properties, who face restrictions on making enduring modifications to their interior design. Beyond renters, the paint offers possibilities for seasonal decoration, themed events, or commercial spaces requiring frequent aesthetic updates. Glasst indicates their patented Glasstommer technology allows the coating to cling securely without residue. The company also promotes it as a biodegradable product, breaking down naturally within one to three years, and an ultra-low VOC (volatile organic compound) formulation. While peelable coatings have existed for applications like car bodywork, achieving dependable performance for this type of item on more delicate internal household surfaces proves a bigger hurdle.

Navigating Challenges in Removable Interior Coatings

A possibility of harming the pre-existing, lower coating exists during Unpaint's removal, although Mr. Botero indicates this outcome is improbable should the foundational permanent finish be well-maintained. Unpaint's consistency is characterized by Mr. Botero as having a somewhat elastic quality, and it may be more susceptible to scratches than traditional water-based emulsions. Bringing Unpaint to market involved overcoming delays. These postponements were required to synchronize with appropriate financial backing and necessary operational capacities, some two years after an initial YouTube reveal. The current cost is approximately $60 (around £47) per gallon, positioning it as a premium option for temporary aesthetic changes.

Image Credit - BBC

The Quest for Warmth: Insulating Paints Under Scrutiny

Glasst is also developing other coatings, including "Thermglasst," a heat-retaining polymer formulation planned for a subsequent release. Mr. Botero asserts that a film under one millimeter in depth can deliver a thermal barrier comparable to forty millimeters of expanded material. This assertion currently lacks independent verification. The broader market for insulating paints, which promise reduced heating bills, has faced critical scientific assessment. These paints often incorporate ceramic microspheres, tiny hollow beads. When mixed into paint, these create a tightly packed film, aiming to form a thermal barrier. Some manufacturers claim these microspheres, sometimes vacuum-filled, resist thermal conductivity much like miniature thermos flasks.

Scientific Assessments of Thermal Paint Efficacy

In 2019, a notable piece of research from Richard Fitton, associated with Salford University, alongside his associates, scrutinized half a dozen heat-reflective coatings then procurable within the United Kingdom's marketplace. Their research concluded that assertions that these particular coatings might lessen energy expenses for heating by figures approaching twenty or even twenty-five percent were not able to be substantiated. The team measured the thermal resistance of the paints on boards. They then determined the anticipated decrease in warmth-related energy outlay for a representative terraced dwelling of the Victorian era. The most significant economy recorded amounted to only two point nine percent.

The Ongoing Search for Viable Heat-Retaining Solutions

Factoring in the retail expense of the specific coatings under review, individuals owning homes could conceivably face delays spanning multiple hundreds of years, potentially extending to a full thousand years – based on 2019 fiscal values – prior to recovering their initial outlay via diminished energy expenditures. Professor Fitton maintains a willingness to evaluate new items, Thermglasst among them. He mentioned in late 2024 that he was preparing a subsequent academic document related to the 2019 investigation. As of early May 2025, further published updates from this specific research group were not prominent. This means the 2019 findings remain a key independent benchmark in the UK context. The allure of energy savings persists, especially with fluctuating energy prices. However, robust, independent evidence of significant efficacy for many existing insulating paint products remains elusive. The challenge lies in delivering a product that genuinely makes a substantial difference to household energy consumption at an affordable cost.

Cooling Down: Reflective Paints Offer a Brighter Outlook

Paints designed to keep houses cool may offer more demonstrable benefits. Over an extended period, investigators have actively examined methods to boost the light-deflection capabilities of coatings for external building surfaces or roofing structures. This concept assists in maintaining cooler internal temperatures within structures during periods of intense warmth and bright sunlight – a weather pattern occurring with greater frequency owing to alterations in the global climate. This fundamental idea is time-honored, illustrated by the customarily white-finished dwellings found in Mediterranean regions. Contemporary developments focus on formulating surface treatments considerably more light-deflecting than conventional white applications, consequently intensifying the cooling outcome. This technology, often termed passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC), works by reflecting solar radiation and emitting thermal radiation to the cold of outer space.

Biomimicry and Real-World Impact of Cooling Coatings

An enterprise active in this domain is i2Cool, located in Hong Kong. Their coating's formulation includes minuscule, engineered particles drawing inspiration from the exceptionally light-scattering exterior of the Saharan desert ant, which naturally withstands intense desert sunshine. This biomimicry involves multi-component and multi-scale nanoparticle materials achieving high solar reflectivity (over 95%) and mid-infrared emissivity. Dr Martin Zhu, who heads i2Cool as its co-originator, detailed how their coating underwent trials upon the rooftop of a commercial center within Hong Kong. This comparative evaluation quantified the power usage for the climate control (AC) systems. Dr Zhu reported that operational expenditures for the climate control in the structure with the coating subsequently dropped by forty percent.

Image Credit - Cool Things

Development and Global Reach of Advanced Reflective Paints

Dr Zhu commenced his work on this cooling formulation around 2017, during his period as a candidate for a doctorate. Early versions contained silver, making them prohibitively expensive. Subsequent extensive refinement brought the expense down to roughly ten US dollars for each square meter of application area. The product is currently offered in a selection of paler shades, such as grey, along with hues of yellow and green. i2Cool's technology has been applied in over 200 projects worldwide, covering more than 300,000 square metres. Landmark applications include the Dubai Mall and the Hong Kong Coliseum. The company is also exploring partnerships to enter the Japanese market and develop marine coatings. Discussions were also reported in late 2024 about potential distribution in the UK.

Addressing Durability and Environmental Aspects of Cooling Technologies

Investigators emphasize that exceptionally light-deflecting surface treatments, intended for passive temperature reduction, must demonstrate resilience against grime accumulation to maintain their efficacy over time. Furthermore, intense light deflection from exceptionally shiny roofing surfaces could potentially warm adjacent, darker constructions, as a 2020 research document proposed. Dr Zhu affirms the i2Cool coating utilizes a liquid-based suspension. It is devoid of dense metallic elements and, although not subject to natural decomposition, its components permit reprocessing. The technology offers potential solutions for mitigating the urban heat island effect. It also helps in reducing energy consumption in buildings and for outdoor equipment, contributing to more sustainable urban environments.

The Expanding Canvas: Smart and Sustainable Paint Futures

The innovations from companies like Glasst and i2Cool are part of a broader trend towards "smart paints" that offer functionality beyond aesthetics. Emerging technologies include temperature-regulating paints and self-cleaning surfaces that repel dirt. Air-purifying paints designed to absorb pollutants also show promise. Some research even explores adaptive paints that change colour in response to temperature or light. Nanotechnology plays a significant role in many of these advancements, enhancing durability, stain resistance, and even providing antimicrobial properties. However, the environmental impact of nanoparticle production and disposal is an area of ongoing research and consideration. Studies suggest that while pristine nanoparticles can show toxicity, their potential for harmful release may be significantly reduced when embedded in a paint matrix.

Driving Sustainability in the Modern Coatings Industry

Sustainability is a major driver in the coatings industry. There is a growing demand for low-VOC and zero-VOC paints, as well as bio-based paints made from natural ingredients. In the UK, the British Coatings Federation (BCF) reports that 84% of decorative paints are now water-based. This marks a significant shift from solvent-based products. The BCF also runs initiatives like PaintCare. This scheme aims to create a circular economy for leftover paint, with an ambitious target to increase the reuse, recycling, or remanufacturing of leftover decorative paint from 2% to 75% by 2030. This is crucial, given that an estimated 55 million litres of leftover paint are generated in the UK each year. The industry has also pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Image Credit - BBC

Overcoming Hurdles in Bringing Novel Paints to Market

The journey from innovative concept to commercially viable product is fraught with challenges. These include the high cost of research and development. Companies must also navigate complex regulatory landscapes, such as REACH in Europe. Volatile raw material markets present further obstacles. Crucially, there is a need to educate consumers and industry about the benefits and proper application of new technologies. For new products to gain traction, they must offer demonstrable advantages in performance, cost-effectiveness, or sustainability. Without these clear benefits, adoption rates will remain low despite the innovative nature of the products.

The Evolving Role of Paint in a Technological Age

The future of paint is likely to see increasing integration of digital tools. Augmented reality for colour visualisation and AI in product development and manufacturing are examples of this trend. As urbanisation continues and environmental concerns grow, the demand for smarter, greener, and more durable coating solutions will only intensify. The humble can of paint is evolving into a sophisticated technological product. It promises to actively enhance the spaces we inhabit in ways previously confined to science fiction. The ongoing dialogue between innovation, scientific validation, and market adoption will ultimately determine which of these promising technologies will colour our future.