Polyurethane coatings are applied on many different substrates in very diverse markets like automotive, aerospace, wood coating, floor coating, textile coating... Polyurethane can be used as one component system, also named 1K formulation, where a high molecular weight PU is mixed with isocyanate that cures with moisture. It can be used with non-isocyanate formulations (including TPU lacquers, aqueous polyurethane dispersions, urethane oils and alkyds, radiation cured PU). PU coatings are also widely used through two components systems (2K formulations) where a polyisocyanate reacts with a polyol or a polyamine.

Polyurethanes are often used as a primer to enhance final coating adhesion and finish. Polyurethane coatings usually bring color retention, better surface finish (high gloss), increased scratch and abrasion resistance as well as moisture resistance. PU coatings are the highest moisture and water resistant coating, but also the only systems sustaining extreme temperature variations (e.g: exterior parts of aircrafts). A strong driver of the increasing use of polyurethanes in the coating industry is its high compatibility with environmentally friendly formulations, including low to zero VOC emissions, but also its potential use of renewable resources like biobased polyols.