Might be a little OT but I was hoping this would include more discussion of the contemporary interplay between aesthetics and paint chemistry / technology. I k

Might be a little OT but I was hoping this would include more discussion of the contemporary interplay between aesthetics and paint chemistry / technology. I know there are some interesting stories behind titanium dioxide production, the use of which is critical to making paints vibrant and opaque [1]. Further I have a pet theory that the recent trend in 'flat' automotive paints (without the apparent depth and larger suspended metallic flakes common in decades prior) has been enabled by some kind of technical advance as well, not just a change in consumer tastes, although I have no evidence to support the idea [2] [1] https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/6/5476904/china-stole-the-color-white-from-dupont-court-rules https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/6/5476904/china-stole-the-co... [2] https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-03-07/la-fi-car-paint-trend-nissan-porsche-hyundai https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-03-07/la-fi-car-...