The main purpose of industrial coatings is to add or enhance a material's properties. Buyers should select coatings based on what properties are important to their specific application. Properties involving coatings include:

• Anti-static / ESD control - coatings used to minimize static electricity in sensitive environments.
• Chemical resistant - coatings which resist acids, alkalis, oils, and general chemicals.
• Conductive - coatings used to form an electrically-conductive layer.
• Dielectric - coatings made from nonconducting materials used in optical applications. High-reflection coatings consist of a stack of alternating layers of high-and-low refractive-index materials. Each layer in the stack has an optical thickness of a quarter-wave at the design wavelength.
• Corrosion inhibiting - coatings which prevent moisture from reaching the metal or underlying substrate, or provide a sacrificial layer.
• EMI / RFI shielding - coatings provide shielding from electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI).
• Flame retardant - coatings are flame-retardant in accordance to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Flame Class 94V-0, or other equivalent ISO standards. These materials reduce the spread of flame or resist ignition when exposed to high temperatures. They also insulate the substrate and delay damage to the substrate.
• Heat resistant - coatings resist damage from heat, or are formulated for use in high-temperature environments.
• Protective - coatings are designed to protect substrates and surfaces.
• Touch-up - coatings are used to repair and match the original coating where it has been damaged by scratching, corrosion, abrasion, erosion, scuffing, denting, chipping, delaminating, or other processes.