[EUROPE 1] Bordeaux : Olikrom, the smart paint

Intelligent pigments to reveal the invisible, without sensors or electronics

Pessac: a magic paint that changes color depending on the temperature. At the base of this paint, there are smart pigments developed by OliKrom in Pessac, near Bordeaux, in Gironde. These magic pigments have the ability to change color depending on temperature, light and pressure.

This makes it possible, for example, to design a grey kettle that turns bright red as soon as there’s a risk of getting burnt, or walls that change from white to blue depending on daylight. No sensors, no electronics… just paint. So there are lots of applications.

Thermochromic pigments have been around for almost 40 years. But until now, they lacked versatility and, above all, resistance to sunlight (UV). As a result, they were rarely used. But that should change with OliKrom pigments. They are extremely resistant, programmable between -150 and +150°, with a choice of reversible or non-reversible color. Not to mention their unique ability to react to pressure. We like to imagine tennis courts on which the mark of the ball would remain printed for a few seconds, to know whether it was in front of or behind the line.

A technology that required 8 years of research and is the subject of 11 international patents. Founded at the end of 2014, the young company already counts Airbus among its customers. The manufacturer wants to use this magic paint on its aircraft to facilitate maintenance. With it, the slightest bird strike, hail deformation or overheating around an engine could be detected with the naked eye, thanks to the color change. A serious safety guarantee.