In the early 1980’s, as government regulations and international standards covering electromagnetic compatibility of digital electronics were implemented, electronic products employing plastic enclosures required shielding to satisfy these requirements. Early generation conductive coatings including nickel and silver filled paints were the only available paint solutions at that time. The early generation silver-based products were very high in price and also very soft films. Nickel paints were low in cost but lacked the electrical properties and oxidation resistance to keep pace with the demands of manufacturers for improved coating performance.

In 1991 Spraylat introduced Y2000, the first copper paint to provide electrical performance capable of competing electrically with vacuum aluminum metallization and plating. Additional development in the mid 1990’s included the introduction of the novel hybrid concept, combining silver and silver-coated copper media into a lower cost, higher performing coating. Additional Spraylat developments during this time include advancement in coating durability and the minimization or elimination of cohesion problems for all product types. Spraylat also developed a strippable conductive coating that would satisfy industry requirements for    recyclability. New water-based conductive paints were also developed and introduced to the market during this period.

SOS products were introduced in the late 1990’s with the objective of offering major improvements in performance while reducing overall use cost. SOS products have become the global standard of performance and manufacturability providing superior electrical conductivity at very low film thickness.