Smart Coating Market Size

Smart Coatings Market size was estimated at USD 4.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to surpass USD 64.5 billion by the end of 2037, rising at a CAGR of 22.9% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of smart coatings is evaluated at USD 5.4 billion.

The smart coatings market is anticipated to witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to the high usage of smart coatings in drone technology. Smart coatings are increasingly used in drones to enhance their performance, durability, and efficiency. Traditional coatings provide basic protection and often fail in extreme environments or require regular maintenance, making smart coating a vital innovation. These materials offer unique properties such as self-healing, UV resistance, anti-corrosion, and conductivity, providing drones with improved functionality.  

Smart coatings can respond dynamically to environmental stimuli. For example, self-healing smart coatings can automatically repair microcracks which diminishes the need for manual creation and prolongs the life of drones. In February 2020, Saab AB integrated self-healing coatings into their Skeldar drone platforms to improve durability in hostile environments such as maritime and desert zones. These coatings let drones work in extreme temperatures and corrosive atmospheres which further extends the maintenance cycle and decreases operational downtime.