Research Partnerships

We believe in advancing sustainability through collaboration.

PPG partners with a range of public and private entities to advance technologies and capabilities that create new sustainable benefits across our existing and future products and services. Our ongoing partnerships cover a wide variety of research topics, including investigating the use of renewable and bio-based materials, improving energy efficiency and supporting the transition to clean energy technologies. Our commitment to responsible research and development applies to both legacy and acquired product lines.

Sustainable fiber composite for automotive manufacturers

PPG worked closely with a major automotive manufacturer to develop an innovative flax-based composite that could replace traditional carbon fiber parts in vehicles. Our team adapted PPG's standard multilayer coating system for carbon fiber components to perform on a natural flax fiber substrate, creating a coating stack that delivers a premium surface while meeting the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) stringent performance and aesthetic requirements for series production.

Through this collaboration, PPG supplied a tailored multilayer-coatings system, including tinted clear coats, engineered to provide durability, color styling and a high-end finish for the natural fiber composite. The partnership shows how natural fiber materials, supported by advanced coatings, can help automakers pursue ambitious sustainability targets without compromising on quality, design or performance.

Flame resistant coatings for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles

PPG is collaborating with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) to develop advanced flame-resistant coatings that improve the safety of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. We are focusing on more sustainable, next-generation coating systems with excellent fire resistance performance while supporting the shift to lower-emission mobility.

Through this partnership we are developing innovative intumescent coating technologies that provide critical safety protection for electric vehicle battery systems. The coatings deliver enhanced performance for hydrogen-powered vehicles, including reliability at extreme temperatures. This work underscores PPG's commitment to supporting the transition to cleaner transportation technologies while prioritizing safety and environmental responsibility.

Enhanced coatings for HVAC systems

PPG is partnering with the National Lab of the Rockies (NLR) and other organizations to develop next-generation coatings designed for heat exchanger applications in HVAC systems. These coatings are engineered to promote rapid condensate removal from heat exchanger surfaces, improving the efficiency of the cooling system. This technology could open a significant new growth opportunity for PPG as most heat exchangers currently operate without protective coatings.

Through this collaboration, PPG researchers have created prototype coatings that maintain their properties even after exposure to common coil cleaner solutions, helping ensure long-term performance in demanding operating environments. Industry guidance defines the specific performance characteristics required in commercial HVAC equipment, while the NLR supplies detailed performance data from a custom test device that measures heat exchange efficiency under a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions.

Laser-based technology for curing coatings

PPG is engaged in a multi-year collaboration with Lawrence Technological University, IPG Photonics and an appliance manufacturer to pilot a lower-energy, laser-based powder coat curing technology for industrial coatings applications. This technology is expected to displace thermal ovens over time, improving energy efficiency, reducing capital-intensive paint shop operations and reducing on-site greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the laser-cure technology has the potential to improve operational efficiency by reducing curing cycle times and limiting energy intensive air conditioning requirements, ultimately reducing the physical footprint required for the curing process.

In 2025, we advanced this work by installing a state-of-the-art pilot finishing line featuring IPG's PhotoniCURE™ laser systems at PPG's powder manufacturing and technical facility in Strongsville, Ohio. We also commissioned a dedicated laboratory system for feasibility studies at our Coatings Innovation Center near Pittsburgh. This initiative builds on our significantly expanded powder coatings platform, which now includes 21 powder manufacturing plants, seven facilities with bonding capabilities, a powder resin plant, a global research and development center and a global center of excellence, positioning the company to scale laser-cure powder technologies for customers around the world.

Beyond our research partnerships, PPG engages broadly with industry associations and other stakeholders around the world. Learn more in the stakeholder engagement section. We also work closely with our customers to develop innovative products that address their greatest challenges. Learn more in the sustainably advantaged products section.

Our approach to research partnerships

External partnerships help us develop more effective and sustainably advantaged products to protect and beautify the world. Read more...

We partner with a range of public and private entities to advance sustainable initiatives and technologies. Many of our research projects relate to the intersection of future customer needs with our products and creating sustainable advantage through reduced environmental impact. Projects include research on the use of renewable and bio-based materials to improve recyclability and reusability, while removing potentially harmful substances. Our commitment to responsible research and development applies to all legacy and recently acquired product lines and helps guide the development of future products and technologies that advance sustainable outcomes.

PPG's external funding team, within our science and technology organization, explores opportunities for PPG to participate in research projects with government and educational institutions. Ultimately, our goal in these partnerships is to solve problems in the real world and solve our customers’ greatest pain points. We take insights developed through our work with external partners and incorporate them into PPG's internal research and development processes.

We approach our portfolio of research projects and partnerships in much the same way that we do other parts of our research and development processes. We work to identify partnerships that focus on developing coatings, specialty products and productivity solutions that would be considered sustainably advantaged according to our methodology.

PPG also participates in conferences, industry associations and related meetings to learn about ongoing research and share our progress in the development of more sustainable practices. Our participation ensures PPG's people stay informed of the newest developments in the industry while also giving our employees opportunities to engage in innovative collaborations with other industry leaders to solve sustainability challenges.