Early Colours of Life | Into the Future
The growth and development of paint has moved very much in parallel with history. The earliest paints served mainly as a medium for man to document life, mark territory and decorate his surroundings. These first paints were not only limited in their ability to protect, but also in terms of the colours offered.
The development of paint technology was vastly accelerated by world events such as the industrial revolution and world wars. Science and technology expanded the role of paints and coatings, adding characteristics such as durability, protection, and ease of application. There are now thousands of product types you can buy, and up to sixteen million colours can be synthesized.
 Today, extensive research and development is steering the way towards the next generation of paint products. The focus is now on creating paints and coats that preserve and protect the environment while beautifying our surroundings. Still, the essentials of paint - dispersing a pigment via a vehicle through some method of application - have stayed the same since prehistory.
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Who were the first ever to use paint?
The earliest use of paint can still be seen today in caves of prehistoric men. These crude paints, created some 30,000 years ago by cavemen, were used to document various aspects of life such as hunting. Back then, the colours were limited to black, red and yellow, together with intermediate tints.
How did mankind discover how to create different coloured paints?
In the period 3000BC to 600 BC, the Egyptians expanded the colour range with their chemical processing techniques. Some of the pigments they created include green, black and white. Lake pigments, an important paint group even today, were also first developed by the Egyptians.
In the Middle Ages, the range of coloured pigments continued to grow as people experimented with different materials to get new colours. A brown pigment called Mummy, for example, was prepared from the bones and bodily remains of Egyptian mummies.
How did science create a wider range of paint colours?
In 1704, Prussian blue was developed as the first known artificial pigment. The end of World War One also saw the introduction of synthetically manufactured pigments and dyes. In 1918, titanium dioxide was produced. This pigment was to replace white lead completely. It offered improved whiteness and 'hiding' power of paint.
Who were the first to use paint for their protective properties?
One of the first people to use paint for its protective properties were the Romans. Studies show that red lead was used to protect and preserve timber in 600BC in Rome. Early Greeks also used paint for their protective value, waterproofing their ships' bottoms with pitch and wax. However, Europe only began to fully recognise the protective value of paints around the 13th century. During the Middle Ages, paintings were protected by varnish made by dissolving suitable resins in hot linseed, hempseed or walnut oil.
When did Asia discover and begin to use paint for its protective value?
Japan was using a totally different sort of coating for its protective value. Lacquer, a clear coating that brings a sheen of sturdy protection to surfaces, was used as early as the Stone Age in Japan. From about 4,000 years ago, lacquer was already used widely for tableware, utensils, weapons and various accessories.
How did the Industrial Revolution lead to the expansion of paint?
Paint, in particular its protective function, was given a big boost during the Industrial Revolution as demand was then high for anti-corrosive coatings that could delay or prevent rust and corrosion in metals. Lead- and zinc-based paints were developed to fulfil these needs.
Many other types of paints and coatings were also created to respond to the growing needs of paint to protect and preserve. By mid 1800s, the Western world's paint industry was growing healthily as an increasing number of paint manufacturing companies were founded.
How did the war impact the paint industry?
The World War did much to accelerate the development of paint. For example, large quantities of nitrocellulose - a chemical used prior to this in paints - were used for explosives during the war. With the end of the war, this excess nitrocellulose was put to good use as automotive coatings.
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 The paint industry today is a multi-million dollar industry. Beyond attractive colours, the industry now covers a large number of disciplines including polymer chemistry, rheology and pigment technology. Much investment has been channelled into dedicated research to develop paints and coats that not only look good, but also offer increasingly improved functionalities such as anti-corrosion and heat-resistant properties.
Present day research is focused on developing products that preserve the ecological balance and protect life. The challenge today is to create eco-friendly products such as water-borne coatings and lead-free paints, amongst other products.
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