COMPANY PROFILE / FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
PPG
A paint giant in which the clearly functional products are aircraft windows and anti-fouling coatings
Most of PPG’s sales are automotive, architectural and industrial paint, and describing all of that would not make a functional-materials story. This profile therefore pulls out only what PPG’s own materials show as functional coatings and parts with a built-in function. The products that can be confirmed are electrochromic aircraft cabin windows, aircraft windows that block ultraviolet and blue light, a biocide-free hull coating that reduces fouling and silver-ion antimicrobial powder coatings. What PPG does not disclose is how much of its sales these functional products account for.
- PPG in 30 seconds, and where it stands in functional materials
- The logo and how the name is written
- Where the company sits in functional materials
- Scale
- Resources committed to functional materials
- What it has done so far
- What comes next
- What the company is aiming for in functional materials
- Map of functional-materials partnerships
- Technologies, products and services
- The risks this company carries
- Glossary
- References
- Claim-to-source audit
1. PPG in 30 seconds, and where it stands in functional materials
Pennsylvania, USAAs stated in the 10-K
PPGFrom the cover page of the 10-K
Components & devices (secondary)The secondary type is aircraft transparencies
US$380 millionCompletion expected in the first half of 2027 (company target)
PPG’s 10-K describes the business as paints, coatings and specialty products, and reports sales in three segments: architectural, performance and industrial coatings Sourced. There is no line called “functional coatings”. Functions such as anti-fouling, antimicrobial protection and electrochromism can be confirmed only from individual product pages and press releases. The result is that we cannot tell what share of PPG’s sales this article’s subject represents. Read what follows with that opacity in mind, and keep track of where each performance figure comes from.
2. The logo and how the name is written
A note on naming: the company is PPG Industries, Inc., and this article follows the 10-K in writing simply PPG. Aircraft transparencies (windshields and windows) are handled by PPG’s aerospace business, the same business that sells aerospace coatings. Subsidiaries and product lines such as Cuming Microwave and SEMCO are outside the scope of this article.
Company website: https://www.ppg.com/en-US3. Where the company sits in functional materials
PPG’s functional products fall into two groups: functions applied to a surface (anti-fouling, water-shedding, antimicrobial, heat reflection) and functions built into the window itself (electrochromic windows, windows that block UV and blue light). The first group belongs to the coatings type and the second is closer to components and devices, so this article treats coatings as the main type and transparencies as the secondary one. Our explainers on superhydrophobic, anti-icing and anti-fouling coatings, on antimicrobial and anticorrosion coatings, and on electrochromic materials and smart windows cover how these functions work.
4. Scale
Company-wide scale is kept brief here; the parts that bear on functional materials start in chapter 5 Sourced.
| Indicator (company-wide, US dollars) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales (US$ million) | 16,242 | 15,845 | 15,875 |
| Research and development costs, including depreciation of research facilities (US$ million) | 446 | 447 | 446 |
| R&D costs as a share of net sales | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Segment (2025, US$ million) | Net sales | Relation to functional products |
|---|---|---|
| Global Architectural Coatings | 3,838 | No functional-product description found in the 10-K (outside this article’s scope) |
| Performance Coatings | 5,513 | Includes aerospace (coatings, sealants, transparencies) and protective and marine coatings |
| Industrial Coatings | 6,524 | Includes specialty products (OLED materials, optical lens materials, photochromic dyes) and low-friction coatings |
PPG employed about 43,500 people at 31 December 2025, of whom about 11,000 were in the United States.
The figures above are for the whole company and for segments that include much besides functional products. The 10-K gives sales growth rates for the aerospace, protective and marine, and specialty products businesses but not their sales in dollars. Sales and headcount for functional coatings or electrochromic windows alone are not disclosed, and this article does not estimate them Not yet confirmed.
5. Resources committed to functional materials
People and money spent specifically on functional products are not disclosed. The table below sets out what could and could not be confirmed.
| Type of resource | What was confirmed | Status |
|---|---|---|
| People | About 43,500 employees company-wide. The website says “nearly 3,500 employees are innovating in 74 locations in 21 countries” (not limited to functional products). The 10-K lists 20 principal R&D centres across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America | Sourced |
| Money (R&D) | Company-wide R&D costs were US$446 million in 2025 (2.8% of net sales). The amount for functional products alone is not disclosed | Sourced |
| Money (capital expenditure) | 2025 capital expenditure including business acquisitions was US$249 million in Performance Coatings and US$245 million in Industrial Coatings. The amount for functional products alone is not disclosed | Sourced |
| Investments, acquisitions, joint ventures and disposals | Manufacturing partner for Universal Display’s OLED emitter materials (since 2000); a memorandum of understanding with Meta Materials on electrochromic gels (2022); a 2005 agreement with Gentex on dimmable aircraft windows (as described in Gentex’s 10-K for 2011); a paint-film joint venture with entrotech. Disposals in 2024: the silicas products business (US$325 million) and the U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business (US$516 million). Business acquisitions in 2025 were only US$1 million | Sourced |
| Universities, research institutes and public funding | The 10-K says only that PPG has obtained government funding for a small portion of its research and will keep seeking it. Agencies, amounts and subjects are not stated. University collaborations on functional products could not be confirmed in official materials | Not confirmed |
Status of main products and facilities
| Product / facility | Location and scale | Stage | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New aerospace coatings and sealants plant | Shelby, North Carolina. US$380 million; a 62-acre site; about 198,000 sq ft; more than 110 jobs | Planned and approved (company announcement). Construction was due to start in October 2025 and the plant to be completed in the first half of 2027 Not yet confirmed | Announced 8 May 2025 | References 11 and 2 |
| OLED emitter-material manufacturing | Plants in Monroeville, Pennsylvania and Barberton, Ohio. A facility in Shannon, Ireland, opened in 2023 | Operating | Company announcement of 30 October 2025 | Reference 12 |
| Aerospace coatings capacity | The 10-K says PPG is focused on “debottlenecking and further expanding manufacturing capabilities”. Capacity (tonnes a year or similar) is not disclosed | Expanding (no quantities could be confirmed) | February 2026 | Reference 1 |
| Production sites for electrochromic cabin windows and windshields | The 10-K’s list of principal plants includes Huntsville, Alabama, among others, but does not say which plant makes what | Could not be confirmed | – | Reference 1 |
6. What it has done so far
| When | What happened | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1883 | Incorporated in Pennsylvania (10-K) | A long-established paint and coatings company |
| 2000 | Became Universal Display’s manufacturing partner for OLED emitter materials (the 2025 announcement says “since 2000”) | Extends beyond surfaces into contract manufacture of electronic materials |
| 2005 | Agreed with Gentex to work together on dimmable windows for the Boeing 787 (according to Gentex) | Not mentioned in PPG’s own materials; Gentex’s statement (Reference 15) |
| 2007 | The website says PPG launched “the aerospace industry’s first electrochromic passenger windows” | The starting point for electrically dimmable windows at PPG (company’s statement) |
| 5 October 2021 | Announced EPA registration of COPPER ARMOR, a copper-containing antimicrobial paint | The antimicrobial effect is a claim made under stated test conditions (chapter 10) |
| 31 May 2022 | Announced a memorandum of understanding with Meta Materials on electrochromic dimming for extended-reality eyewear | An attempt to take electrochromics beyond windows. The release states no binding force, term or amount |
| 6 March 2023 | Published power-saving and emissions figures for SIGMAGLIDE 2390, a biocide-free fouling-release hull coating | The company says the figures rest on third-party evidence (the release gives no further detail on conditions) |
| 2023 | The OLED manufacturing facility in Shannon, Ireland, opened | Wider supply base for OLED materials |
| 2024 | Sold the silicas products business for US$325 million and the U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business for US$516 million | Portfolio narrowing (10-K) |
| 8 May 2025 | Announced US$380 million for a new aerospace coatings and sealants plant | The largest investment in an aerospace business that includes functional products |
| 20 April 2026 | Announced protective coatings for data centers (EMI shielding, antistatic, fire protection, heat reflection and more) | The release names no products or performance figures, only a list of functions |
7. What comes next
(organic)The 10-K points to aerospace as a driver
For 2026 the 10-K expects continued weakness in industrial demand and growth led by aerospace coatings and other businesses, with organic sales growth ranging from flat to a low single-digit percentage Not yet confirmed. Aerospace organic sales rose by a double-digit percentage in 2025, and the 10-K says the company remains “focused on debottlenecking and further expanding manufacturing capabilities” Sourced.
None of the following appears in the 10-K or in official announcements Not yet confirmed.
The sales or shipment volumes of electrochromic windows, anti-fouling coatings and antimicrobial coatings; what became of the Meta Materials memorandum; the product mix of the new plant (the split between coatings and sealants, and whether it includes transparencies); R&D spending and headcount for functional products alone.
8. What the company is aiming for in functional materials
Neither the 10-K nor any official announcement sets out a medium-term strategy for functional products. What follows is inference from published facts.
| What can be read from the record | Primary information behind it | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Functional products are sold as families qualified for each application, not as one-off new materials | The website says PPG supplies transparencies by aircraft programme (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, ATR) and has Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) repair approval for certain windows | Inference |
| The aerospace business is the main arena for functional products | The 10-K reports double-digit organic growth and a rising backlog in aerospace; US$380 million for a new plant; the website puts electrochromic and UV-blocking windows up front | Inference |
| PPG has tried to take electrochromics beyond windows, into eyewear | The 2022 memorandum with Meta Materials. Commercialisation afterwards could not be confirmed | Sourced (the attempt) / Inference (the intent) |
| For anti-fouling and antimicrobial products, PPG itself supplies the effectiveness figures | The SIGMAGLIDE 2390 and COPPER ARMOR releases give the numbers and the test methods and caveats themselves | Inference |
The strongest reason for reading aerospace as the main arena is the size of the capital commitment. In May 2025 PPG announced US$380 million for a new plant dedicated to aerospace coatings and sealants Sourced. We found no announcement of a dedicated facility of comparable size for anti-fouling or antimicrobial coatings. But the plant is described as making “coatings and sealants”, and the announcement does not say whether electrochromic windows or other transparencies are included. So the most that can be said is that PPG is investing in an aerospace business that includes functional products, not that it is investing in functional products as such Not yet confirmed.
9. Map of functional-materials partnerships
10. Technologies, products and services
The table lists the products whose functions could be confirmed from PPG’s official materials, together with where each performance figure comes from. All figures are manufacturer’s stated values; this article did not verify them against peer-reviewed work or standards. No comparison with other makers’ products is made.
| Product | Function | Manufacturer’s stated value and conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIGMAGLIDE 2390 | Reduces fouling on ship hulls (biocide-free fouling-release coating) | Power savings of up to 20%, speed loss under 1% and CO2 emissions up to 35% lower than traditional anti-fouling coatings. The company says the figures rest on third-party evidence following ISO 19030 and ITTC standards. The release gives no vessel or route details, and says real performance depends on the ship and operating conditions | Reference 8 |
| SILVERSAN | Silver-ion antimicrobial treatment in powder coatings | Releases silver ions slowly to help protect the cured film against microbial growth. Heat resistance tested up to 100°C. The antimicrobial effect is limited to the coated surface and does not protect users against food-borne or disease-causing organisms, the page says | Reference 7 |
| COPPER ARMOR (announced 2021) | Copper-containing antimicrobial paint | Kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on the painted surface within two hours, tested under EPA protocols. The effect lasts up to five years only while the surface remains intact, and the paint is described as part of a comprehensive infection-control and hygiene programme | Reference 9 |
| Alteos | Electrochromic passenger-cabin window shade | A button selects clear, dark or intermediate states, and the page says UV and infrared transmission are reduced, lowering the cabin heat load. On loss of power the window defaults to clear | Reference 5 |
| SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION | Blocks UV and blue light in aircraft windows | Blocks over 99% of UVA and UVB and more than 40% of high-energy visible blue light, with no impact on the window’s optical or structural quality, the page says | Reference 6 |
| Surface Seal | Water-shedding coating for windshield glass | A rain-shedding coating system that is UV resistant and compatible with most aerospace cleaning and maintenance fluids. No figures are given on the page | Reference 14 |
| Opticor | Transparent plastic for aircraft windows | Lower specific gravity than stretched acrylic and strong craze resistance. A flammability test under 14 CFR Part 25.853(a) was run on an Opticor and stretched-acrylic laminate, according to the page | Reference 13 |
| Specialty products | OLED materials, optical lens materials, photochromic dyes | The 10-K only lists the products. No sales or performance figures | Reference 1 |
PPG’s aircraft windows show at least three distinct functions Sourced. (1) A water-shedding thin film on the surface (Surface Seal). (2) A UV and blue-light blocking function built into the window itself (SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION; the page calls it durable, static protection built into the window, and does not describe the method). (3) An electrically dimmable layer sandwiched inside (Alteos, a dimmable panel placed between the inboard dust cover and the outboard structural window).
The film in (1) can wear, so re-application is part of maintenance, and the company sells field application kits. The function in (2) sits inside the window and is less exposed to wear, but its blocking is fixed and cannot be varied. Option (3) can vary the tint, but it needs power, controls and electrodes, which add weight and complexity. PPG’s description of the window defaulting to clear when power is lost shows that, in aircraft, which way an electrochromic device fails is a design condition Sourced. The three options solve different problems under different conditions, so they cannot be ranked against each other.
For the anti-fouling coating, PPG’s own description is that the coating changes when immersed in water to give a very smooth surface that marine organisms cannot recognise or attach to. The molecular mechanism could not be confirmed from public material. In general, fouling-release coatings are understood to weaken adhesion so that organisms are shed by water flow while the ship moves, rather than preventing attachment outright Not yet confirmed (this is our commentary, not a statement from PPG).
The “99.9% in two hours” for COPPER ARMOR is a claim made under EPA test protocols, on the painted surface, while the film stays intact. It does not support statements such as “safe”, “harmless” or “completely prevents”. PPG itself states for SILVERSAN that it does not protect users. The SIGMAGLIDE 2390 figures are measured against traditional anti-fouling coatings, and the company says they vary with the ship and operating conditions.
11. The risks this company carries
| Risk | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Functional sales are invisible | Sales, investment and headcount for functional coatings and electrochromic windows are not disclosed, so progress is hard to check from outside | Sourced |
| Performance figures rest on the company’s own releases | The anti-fouling and antimicrobial numbers come from PPG’s own announcements. This article did not confirm independent verification | Sourced |
| Dependence on aircraft production and delivery | The 10-K lists, as a risk, that the aerospace coatings business depends in part on PPG’s ability to meet customer demand, production targets and commitments | Sourced |
| Ramp-up of the new plant | Completion in the first half of 2027 is a company target; delays or cost overruns cannot be ruled out | Not yet confirmed |
| Growing chemical regulation | The 10-K expects the number of chemical registration regulations to keep rising worldwide, which could affect the availability and viability of some raw materials. No substance is named | Sourced |
| Opaque joint development | The Meta Materials memorandum states no binding force, term or amount, and later commercialisation could not be confirmed | Inference |
| Portfolio churn | PPG sold its silicas and U.S. and Canada architectural businesses in 2024. Further reshuffling could reach functional products | Inference |
12. Glossary
- Electrochromic
- A property by which colour or tint changes reversibly when a voltage is applied. Used in dimmable windows and anti-glare mirrors.
- Fouling-release coating
- A hull coating that makes attached organisms easy to shed. It differs in approach from an anti-fouling paint that uses biocides to stop attachment.
- Biocide
- A chemical intended to kill or suppress living organisms. PPG describes SIGMAGLIDE 2390 as free of them.
- Photochromic
- A property by which colour changes with light. Dyes of this kind are used in sunglass lenses.
- OLED
- Organic light-emitting diode. A display technology in which organic materials emit light themselves. PPG manufactures emitter materials under contract.
- UVA / UVB
- The longer-wavelength (UVA) and shorter-wavelength (UVB) parts of ultraviolet light.
- Organic sales
- Sales growth excluding currency effects, acquisitions and divestitures. The 10-K’s own term.
- Form 10-K
- The annual report that U.S.-listed companies file with the U.S. SEC.
13. References
- PPG Industries Annual Report and Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2025 (filed with the U.S. SEC on 19 February 2026). Business segments, specialty products (OLED materials, optical lens materials, photochromic dyes), aerospace coatings backlog, sales, R&D spending, headcount, capital expenditure and divestitures. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm
- PPG Industries 2025 Strategic Milestones (company website). The decision to invest in the Shelby plant and a list of 2025 product launches. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/about-ppg/strategic-milestones
- PPG Industries Cutting-Edge Coating Innovations (company website). The 2007 electrochromic passenger windows, COPPER ARMOR, SIGMAGLIDE 2390, PPG Advanced Surface Technologies and the scale of the R&D organisation. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/about-ppg/innovation
- PPG Industries Transparencies (company website, aerospace). Flight-deck windows, Surface Seal, Hydroskip, Opticor, Alteos and SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies
- PPG Industries Alteos Interactive Window System (company website). Electrochromic passenger-cabin window shades. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies/transparencies-technology/alteos
- PPG Industries SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION (company website). Aircraft windows that block UVA, UVB and high-energy visible blue light. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies/transparencies-technology/solaron-blue-protection
- PPG Industries PPG SILVERSAN (company website). Powder coatings with a silver-ion antimicrobial treatment, and the accompanying notes. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/industrialcoatings/powder-coatings/silversan
- PPG Industries PPG SIGMAGLIDE 2390 marine coating delivers dramatic power savings and emissions reductions (press release, 6 March 2023). https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2023/PPG-SIGMAGLIDE-2390-marine-coating-delivers-dramatic-power-savings-and-emissions-reductions/default.aspx
- PPG Industries PPG Receives EPA Registration for COPPER ARMOR Paint Powered by Corning Guardiant Technology (press release, 5 October 2021). https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2021/PPG-Receives-EPA-Registration-for-COPPER-ARMOR-Paint-Powered-by-Corning-Guardiant-Technology-Proven-to-Kill-Bacteria-and-Viruses-Including-SARS-CoV-2-The-Virus-That-Causes-COVID-19/default.aspx
- PPG Industries / Meta Materials Meta Materials, PPG Announce Plans to Develop Electrochromic Applications for Ophthalmic Optics in the Extended Reality Market (press release, 31 May 2022). https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2022/Meta-Materials-PPG-Announce-Plans-to-Develop-Electrochromic-Applications-for–Ophthalmic-Optics-in-the-Extended-Reality-Market/
- PPG Industries PPG to invest $380 million to build new U.S. manufacturing facility in Shelby, N.C., for aerospace coatings and sealants (press release, 8 May 2025). https://news.ppg.com/Press-Releases/news-details/2025/PPG-to-invest-380-million-to-build-new-U-S–manufacturing-facility-in-Shelby-N-C–for-aerospace-coatings-and-sealants/default.aspx
- PPG Industries PPG, Universal Display Corporation celebrate 25 years of partnership with community donations (press release, 30 October 2025). https://news.ppg.com/Press-Releases/news-details/2025/PPG-Universal-Display-Corporation-celebrate-25-years-of-partnership-with-community-donations/default.aspx
- PPG Industries Opticor advanced transparency material (company website). A transparent plastic for aircraft windows. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies/transparencies-technology/opticor
- PPG Industries PPG SURFACE SEAL hydrophobic coating (company website). A water-shedding coating for windshield glass. https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/product/ppg-surface-seal-hydrophobic-coating/PLP0000018792
- Gentex Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2011 (filed with the U.S. SEC on 22 February 2012). Description of the 2005 agreement with PPG Aerospace on dimmable windows (a Gentex document). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/355811/000119312512071341/d271124d10k.htm
14. Claim-to-source audit
| Claim in the text | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Company name, year of incorporation, headquarters, listing, about 43,500 employees | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| Net sales (2023 to 2025), R&D costs of US$446 million (2.8%), segment sales and capital expenditure | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| Specialty products include OLED materials, optical lens materials and photochromic dyes | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| Double-digit organic growth in aerospace coatings, backlog of about US$315 million, 2026 outlook | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| 20 principal R&D centres, and the 2024 divestitures of the silicas and U.S. and Canada architectural businesses | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| Statement that government funding supports a small portion of research (no agency or amount given) | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| US$380 million Shelby plant, completion expected in the first half of 2027, construction due to start in October 2025 | Not yet confirmed | Reference 11 and 2 https://news.ppg.com/Press-Releases/news-details/2025/PPG-to-invest-380-million-to-build-new-U-S–manufacturing-facility-in-Shelby-N-C–for-aerospace-coatings-and-sealants/default.aspx https://www.ppg.com/en-US/about-ppg/strategic-milestones |
| Nearly 3,500 employees innovating in 74 locations in 21 countries; the 2007 electrochromic passenger windows; PPG Advanced Surface Technologies (joint venture with entrotech) | Sourced | Reference 3 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/about-ppg/innovation |
| Universal Display manufacturing partnership (since 2000); the Monroeville, Barberton and Shannon sites | Sourced | Reference 12 https://news.ppg.com/Press-Releases/news-details/2025/PPG-Universal-Display-Corporation-celebrate-25-years-of-partnership-with-community-donations/default.aspx |
| Contents of the memorandum with Meta Materials (31 May 2022) | Sourced | Reference 10 https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2022/Meta-Materials-PPG-Announce-Plans-to-Develop-Electrochromic-Applications-for–Ophthalmic-Optics-in-the-Extended-Reality-Market/ |
| Gentex and PPG Aerospace agreed in 2005 to work together on dimmable windows for the Boeing 787 (Gentex’s statement) | Sourced | Reference 15 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/355811/000119312512071341/d271124d10k.htm |
| The current relationship between Gentex and PPG | Not yet confirmed | Not in PPG’s materials or in Gentex’s latest filing; could not be confirmed Reference 15 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/355811/000119312512071341/d271124d10k.htm |
| SIGMAGLIDE 2390 figures (up to 20%, under 1%, up to 35%) and the stated basis | Sourced | Reference 8 https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2023/PPG-SIGMAGLIDE-2390-marine-coating-delivers-dramatic-power-savings-and-emissions-reductions/default.aspx |
| COPPER ARMOR claim (99.9%, two hours, up to five years) and its caveats | Sourced | Reference 9 https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2021/PPG-Receives-EPA-Registration-for-COPPER-ARMOR-Paint-Powered-by-Corning-Guardiant-Technology-Proven-to-Kill-Bacteria-and-Viruses-Including-SARS-CoV-2-The-Virus-That-Causes-COVID-19/default.aspx |
| SILVERSAN function and the note that it does not protect users | Sourced | Reference 7 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/industrialcoatings/powder-coatings/silversan |
| Alteos functions (dimming, reduced UV and infrared, clear on power loss) | Sourced | Reference 5 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies/transparencies-technology/alteos |
| SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION blocking rates (over 99% UVA and UVB, over 40% blue light) | Sourced | Reference 6 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies/transparencies-technology/solaron-blue-protection |
| Transparencies supplied for Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer and ATR; Hydroskip; FAA repair approval | Sourced | Reference 4 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies |
| Surface Seal is a water-shedding coating for windshield glass | Sourced | Reference 14 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/product/ppg-surface-seal-hydrophobic-coating/PLP0000018792 |
| Opticor properties and the 14 CFR Part 25.853(a) test reference | Sourced | Reference 13 https://www.ppg.com/en-US/aerospace/products/transparencies/transparencies-technology/opticor |
| The four-type classification of companies (Fig. 1) | Our calculation | Our own grouping; company names are examples from those covered in this series |
| Sales, R&D spending, headcount and capacity for functional products alone | Not yet confirmed | None is disclosed; this article does not estimate them Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| What followed the Meta Materials memorandum, and any commercialisation | Not yet confirmed | Could not be confirmed in official materials Reference 10 https://investor.ppg.com/news/news-details/2022/Meta-Materials-PPG-Announce-Plans-to-Develop-Electrochromic-Applications-for–Ophthalmic-Optics-in-the-Extended-Reality-Market/ |
| University collaborations on functional products | Not yet confirmed | Not in the 10-K; this article does not claim none exist Reference 1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/79879/000007987926000046/ppg-20251231.htm |
| Whether the new plant includes transparencies, or invests in functional products as such | Not yet confirmed | The announcement says only coatings and sealants Reference 11 https://news.ppg.com/Press-Releases/news-details/2025/PPG-to-invest-380-million-to-build-new-U-S–manufacturing-facility-in-Shelby-N-C–for-aerospace-coatings-and-sealants/default.aspx |
| Reading that functional products are sold as application-qualified families | Inference | This article’s interpretation of the programme-by-programme supply and FAA repair approval |
| Reading that aerospace is the main arena for functional products | Inference | This article’s interpretation of aerospace growth, backlog and the plant investment |
| Reading that PPG supplies its own effectiveness figures for anti-fouling and antimicrobial products | Inference | This article’s interpretation of how the releases are written |
| The general idea of fouling-release coatings (weaker adhesion, shed by water flow) | Not yet confirmed | Our commentary; not a statement in PPG’s materials |
| The three kinds of function in an aircraft window (surface film, built-in blocking, electrochromic layer) | Our calculation | Our commentary; the descriptions of each function rest on References 4 to 6 |
| The risks of opaque joint development and portfolio churn | Inference | This article’s interpretation of what is disclosed and of the divestitures |
Last updated 10 October 2026 / Troy Technical
Figures in this article come from PPG’s statutory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and from PPG’s website and press releases. No research-firm estimates or press-based figures have been used. Product performance values are manufacturer’s stated values and were not verified here. Passages marked “Inference” are this article’s interpretation of primary sources, not statements made by the company.