GINC Technology
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing

Functional Materials & Coatings

The capacity to engineer materials and surfaces that do something, respond, adapt, protect, sense or heal, from stimulus-responsive materials to multifunctional engineered coatings.

Capability group
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Domain
Critical Technology · Hard Power
Identifier
factbase.org/cap/EFGR7R6K02
Reference
Smart material Wikipedia

Papers

89.9k

2020–2024

Paper growth

+26%

2020–24 on 2015–19

Patent families

64.4k

2020–2024

Filed abroad

22%

families in more than one office

Framework

What it covers

What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.

Bounds

Covers functional materials and engineered surfaces; the devices that exploit them, sensors, actuators and electronics, sit with the sensing, robotics and semiconductor groups.

Lineage

Carried from v0.0 (formerly Smart materials) with the same identifier, absorbing Coatings (retired): the two nodes described one family of engineered function, split only by where the function sits.

Indicators

  • research publication share in functional materialsResearch
  • patent families in smart materials and coatingsPatents
Research

Who publishes it

Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Smart materials and Coatings.

Papers by year

The five leading nations, papers by year

Share of papers, 2020–2024

Of papers with a known author nation; 28% have none and are left out.

  1. 1China33.0%26,747 papers
  2. 2United States9.7%7,882 papers
  3. 3India6.5%5,301 papers
  4. 4Germany3.8%3,064 papers
  5. 5South Korea3.5%2,835 papers
  6. 6Russia3.5%2,795 papers
  7. 7Japan3.3%2,692 papers
  8. 8United Kingdom3.0%2,453 papers
  9. 9France2.2%1,756 papers
  10. 10Italy1.9%1,554 papers

Leading institutions, 2020–2024

By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.

  1. 1Harbin Institute of Technology684fractional papers
  2. 2Chinese Academy of Sciences619fractional papers
  3. 3Sichuan University589fractional papers
  4. 4Xi'an Jiaotong University559fractional papers
  5. 5South China University of Technology407fractional papers
  6. 6Zhejiang University398fractional papers
  7. 7Tsinghua University336fractional papers
  8. 8Shanghai Jiao Tong University327fractional papers
  9. 9Northwestern Polytechnical University269fractional papers
  10. 10Huazhong University of Science and Technology269fractional papers
Patents

Who patents it

Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.

Families by priority year

The five leading origins, families by year

14,067 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 7% of families (HHI 20 of 10,000: unconcentrated).

Share of families by origin, 2020–2024

  1. 1China67.8%43,625 families
  2. 2Japan11.4%7,311 families
  3. 3South Korea8.7%5,613 families
  4. 4United States4.6%2,948 families
  5. 5Germany1.9%1,233 families
  6. 6Taiwan1.1%721 families
  7. 7France0.7%428 families
  8. 8Switzerland0.4%272 families
  9. 9United Kingdom0.3%204 families
  10. 10Russia0.3%170 families

Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024

Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.

  1. 1APPLIED MATERIALS INC1,122international families
  2. 2SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD724international families
  3. 3DAIKIN IND LTD481international families
  4. 4BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD440international families
  5. 5CANON TOKKI CORP434international families
  6. 6TOKYO ELECTRON LTD394international families
  7. 7NITTO DENKO CORP353international families
  8. 8NIPPON STEEL CORP352international families
  9. 9AGC INC351international families
  10. 10SHINETSU CHEMICAL CO297international families

Classification read

  • C23C14/00 Vacuum-deposited coatings: evaporation, sputtering, ion implantation · 793.2k documents
  • C23C4/00 Thermal-spray coatings · 140.2k documents
  • C23C28/00 Multi-layer engineered coatings on metals · 204.5k documents
  • C09D5/08 Anti-corrosive coatings · 84.5k documents
  • C09D5/16 Antifouling and underwater coatings · 64.1k documents
  • C09D5/24 Electrically conducting coatings · 30.1k documents
  • C09D5/32 Radiation-absorbing coatings · 10k documents
  • C09K9/00 Photochromic and thermochromic materials · 17.3k documents
  • C09K5/02 Phase-change materials for heat storage and transfer · 63.8k documents
  • C09K3/18 Ice-repellent and water-repellent surface materials · 19.2k documents
  • H10N30/85 Piezoelectric and electrostrictive materials · 43.5k documents
  • C22F1/006 Shape-memory alloys · 3.2k documents

Shares inventions with

Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).

Companies

Who makes it

The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.

50 companies in this capability, from 26 nations across 7 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.

  1. Very high5 companies
  2. 1

    United StatesPPG Industries

    One of the two largest coatings makers globally, supplying aerospace, automotive OEM, protective and functional coatings (anti-corrosion, conductive, self-cleaning).

    Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Pittsburgh · founded 1883 · 46k staff

  3. 2

    United StatesSherwin-Williams

    Largest coatings company by revenue, with performance coatings for industrial wood, coil, packaging, protective and marine uses.

    Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Cleveland · founded 1866 · 64k staff

  4. 3

    NetherlandsAkzoNobel

    Major global maker of performance coatings including Interpon powder, International marine and protective, aerospace and automotive refinish coatings.

    Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Netherlands, Amsterdam · founded 1994 · 35k staff

  5. 4

    GermanyBASF

    Largest chemical company, supplying automotive OEM coatings, pigments, dispersions, functional additives and engineered polymers.

    Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Ludwigshafen · founded 1865 · 112k staff

  6. 5

    United States3M

    Leading maker of engineered films, optical and protective films, abrasives, adhesives and surface-protection materials.

    Very high relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Saint Paul · founded 1902 · 62k staff

  7. High14 companies
  8. 6

    JapanNippon Paint Holdings

    Asia's largest paint group (incl. Wuthelam JV, DuluxGroup Australia, Cromology) with antiviral, heat-reflective and automotive functional coatings.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1881

  9. 7

    United StatesApplied Materials

    Top international patent applicant in this capability; supplies deposition (PVD, CVD, ALD) and web/glass coating equipment for engineered thin-film surfaces.

    High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Santa Clara · founded 1967 · 36k staff

  10. 8

    JapanDaikin Industries

    Major fluorochemicals producer (PTFE, fluoroelastomers, water/oil-repellent and fluoropolymer coatings) and a top patent applicant in this field.

    High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Osaka · founded 1924

  11. 9

    JapanShin-Etsu Chemical

    World leader in silicones, silicon wafers and photoresists; silicone coatings and functional resins are core to engineered surfaces.

    High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1926

  12. 10

    JapanNitto Denko

    Leading producer of functional films, optical polarizers, protective tapes and membranes; a top patent applicant in this capability.

    High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Osaka · founded 1918

  13. 11

    JapanAGC Inc.

    Major glass and fluorochemicals group making coated low-e, anti-reflective and functional glass plus Fluon fluoropolymers.

    High relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1907

  14. 12

    FranceSaint-Gobain

    Makes coated and electrochromic glass (SageGlass), performance plastics, coating solutions and ceramic functional materials.

    High relevance · Advanced materials · France, Courbevoie · founded 1665 · 161k staff

  15. 13

    GermanyHenkel

    Henkel Adhesive Technologies (Loctite, Bonderite) is the global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional surface treatments.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Dusseldorf · founded 1876 · 48k staff

  16. 14

    GermanyMerck KGaA (MilliporeSigma)

    Electronics sector supplies liquid-crystal, display and surface-modification materials; it sold its Surface Solutions pigment unit to Global New Material in 2025.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Darmstadt · founded 1668 · 63k staff

  17. 15

    United StatesAxalta Coating Systems

    Leading supplier of automotive refinish, OEM and industrial performance coatings including e-coat and powder coatings.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Philadelphia · founded 1866 · 12k staff

  18. 16

    United StatesDow

    Major supplier of acrylic coating binders, silicones and functional polymers used in engineered coatings.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Midland · founded 1897 · 36k staff

  19. 17

    United StatesDuPont

    Supplies high-performance materials (Kevlar, Nomex, Tyvek, Kapton films); its electronics materials were spun off as Qnity in 2025.

    High relevance · Advanced materials · United States, Wilmington · founded 1802

  20. 18

    GermanyEvonik Industries

    Leading supplier of coating additives, silica, crosslinkers and high-performance polymers for functional coatings.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Essen · founded 2007 · 32k staff

  21. 19

    SwitzerlandOerlikon

    Oerlikon Balzers and Metco are global leaders in PVD thin-film and thermal-spray coating services, materials and equipment.

    High relevance · Professional & data services · Switzerland, Pfaffikon · founded 1906

  22. Moderate12 companies
  23. 20

    FranceArkema

    Specialty materials group making coating resins, PVDF (Kynar) fluoropolymers, Bostik adhesives and electroactive polymers.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · France, Colombes · founded 2004 · 21k staff

  24. 21

    JapanKansai Paint

    Major automotive and industrial coatings maker with large subsidiaries in India (Nerolac), South Africa (Plascon) and Europe (Helios).

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Osaka · founded 1918

  25. 22

    NorwayJotun

    Leading marine, protective and powder coatings maker, including antifouling and fire-protective coatings, with a strong Middle East and Asia presence.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Norway, Sandefjord · founded 1926

  26. 23

    DenmarkHempel

    Foundation-owned maker of marine antifouling, protective and intumescent fire-protection coatings.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Denmark, Kongens Lyngby · founded 1915

  27. 24

    GermanyCovestro

    Major supplier of polyurethane coating raw materials, polycarbonate and functional films; acquired by ADNOC's XRG in 2025 and delisted.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Leverkusen · founded 2015

  28. 25

    Germanyallnex

    World's leading pure-play coating resins and additives producer, owned by Thailand's PTT Global Chemical.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Frankfurt · founded 2013

  29. 26

    United StatesGentex

    Dominant supplier of electrochromic auto-dimming mirrors and dimmable aircraft windows, a leading commercial smart-material application.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Zeeland · founded 1974

  30. 27

    ChinaWanhua Chemical

    Largest MDI producer worldwide, supplying polyurethane coating, adhesive and functional material chemistries.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Yantai · founded 1998

  31. 28

    South KoreaLG Chem

    Korea's largest chemical firm, with advanced materials, functional films and engineering plastics businesses.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1947

  32. 29

    IndiaAsian Paints

    India's largest paint company with industrial and automotive coatings JVs with PPG and operations across South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · India, Mumbai · founded 1942

  33. 30

    South KoreaKCC Corporation

    Korea's largest coatings maker and parent of silicones producer Momentive Performance Materials.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1958

  34. 31

    United KingdomBodycote

    World's largest provider of heat-treatment and specialist surface technologies (S3P, hot isostatic pressing, surface hardening).

    Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · United Kingdom, Macclesfield · founded 1923

  35. Low6 companies
  36. 32

    ChinaGlobal New Material International

    Chinese effect-pigment maker (Chesir pearlescent pigments) that acquired Merck KGaA's Surface Solutions business in 2025.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Guilin · founded 2011

  37. 33

    ChinaSkshu Paint (3TREES)

    One of China's largest domestic coatings makers, producing architectural, waterproofing and functional coatings.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Putian · founded 2002

  38. 34

    IndiaBerger Paints India

    India's second-largest paint maker with protective, powder and automotive coatings units.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · India, Kolkata · founded 1923

  39. 35

    ItalySAES Getters

    Functional-materials specialist in getters, shape-memory alloy wires and functional polymer composites.

    Low relevance · Advanced materials · Italy, Lainate · founded 1940

  40. 36

    Saudi ArabiaSABIC

    Aramco-controlled petrochemical major whose Specialties unit supplies engineering thermoplastics, functional films and additives.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 1976

  41. 37

    TürkiyeSisecam

    Turkey's glass and chemicals major, producing coated low-e and solar-control glass plus chromium and soda chemicals.

    Low relevance · Advanced materials · Türkiye, Istanbul · founded 1935

  42. Very low13 companies
  43. 38

    United Arab EmiratesNational Paints

    Leading Gulf coatings maker with plants across MENA; majority owner of Egypt's listed Pachin (EGX: PACH) since 2023.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Arab Emirates, Sharjah · founded 1969

  44. 39

    Saudi ArabiaJazeera Paints

    Saudi Arabia's largest paint maker, producing architectural, industrial and protective coatings across the region.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Saudi Arabia, Jeddah · founded 1979

  45. 40

    BrazilWEG

    Brazilian industrial group whose WEG Tintas division makes industrial liquid and powder coatings and electrical insulating varnishes.

    Very low relevance · Equipment & machinery · Brazil, Jaraguá do Sul · founded 1961

  46. 41

    BrazilRenner Sayerlack

    A leading Latin American maker of wood coatings and industrial finishes, exporting across the Americas.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Brazil, Cajamar

  47. 42

    ThailandTOA Paint

    Southeast Asia's largest home-grown paint and coatings company, with functional and protective coatings across ASEAN.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Thailand, Bangkok · founded 1964

  48. 43

    PolandSnieżka

    One of Central and Eastern Europe's largest independent paint and coatings producers.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Poland, Lubzina · founded 1984

  49. 44

    ColombiaOrbis (Pintuco)

    Colombian group whose Pintuco brand leads Andean and Central American paint and coatings markets.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Colombia, Medellin · founded 1945

  50. 45

    MexicoPinturas Berel

    Largest independent Mexican paint and coatings maker, which has announced a US$38m plant in Queretaro.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Mexico, Santa Catarina

  51. 46

    IndonesiaAvian Brands

    Indonesia's leading listed paint and coatings maker, including waterproofing and protective coatings.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Indonesia, Surabaya · founded 1978

  52. 47

    MoroccoColorado

    Morocco's leading paint and coatings manufacturer, expanding into West Africa (e.g. Cote d'Ivoire).

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Morocco, Casablanca

  53. 48

    KenyaCrown Paints Kenya

    East Africa's largest listed coatings maker, producing decorative, automotive and industrial coatings.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Kenya, Nairobi · founded 1958

  54. 49

    NigeriaChemical and Allied Products (CAP Plc)

    Nigeria's leading listed paint maker (Dulux licensee under the UAC group).

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Nigeria, Lagos · founded 1965

  55. 50

    ArgentinaSinteplast

    Argentina's largest domestic paint and coatings maker, making architectural, industrial and automotive coatings.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Argentina, Buenos Aires

These companies in the Companies table →