Surface coatings is a term, covering a very wide field with many different systems. Basically the idea is always the same: modifying the substrate surface or binding the substrate particles together. When talking about coatings in general you can think of inks, paints, varnishes, polishes, etc.
If the binder systems contains some free reactive -COOH or -OH groups, the binder properties can be improved by the use of zirconium based crosslinkers.
Zirconium (Zr) is able to build bridges between free -COOH and -OH groups to reinforce the binder. Which results in more durable properties and better binding properties. And because of the decrease of free hydrophilic groups the substrate will become more hydrophobic.
Schematical crosslink reaction between crosslinker
and polymer .