2. A brief history of coatings and surface treatments

From time immemorial, man has sought to preserve his home, his tools, his weapons, his boat... and more recently his other means of transport such as the car, the plane and the rocket. To protect his possessions against the ravages of time and the environment, he has constantly had to choose between :

• use a material that is intrinsically resistant and often "noble";

• cover it with a more resistant coating or material.

The following milestones mark out this fascinating history of surface protection [1] , with a clear evolution from decorative to protective coatings.