In the home decoration materials market, the essence of the competition between diatom mud and traditional paint is the game between functional value and consumer benefits. This paper reveals the deep performance differences between the two through laboratory data and 10-year tracking case analysis.
 
 **1. Environmental protection: Dimensional reduction strike of diatom mud**
 Test data shows that the formaldehyde purification rate of high-quality diatom mud reaches 92% (GB/T 35152-2017 standard requirements ≥80%), far exceeding the average value of the latex paint industry by 21%. Its continuous humidity regulation capacity of 2.8m²/g can stabilize the indoor humidity in the comfort range of 45%-65%, while latex paint can only achieve initial adsorption by adding bamboo charcoal components. After 3 months, the VOC release volume will rise to the initial value. More than 75%.
 
 **2. Functional extension: from passive protection to active adjustment**
 Diatom mud breaks through the limitations of traditional paints in flat decoration. In the renovation of a hotel in Xiamen, the 3mm thick diatom mud coating reduced the growth rate of mold spots by 83%. Upgraded products using photocatalyst technology achieved a daily average formaldehyde in closed box experiments. The decomposition amount is 2.3mg/m³, which is 7 times that of activated carbon materials. The anti-mold function of latex paint depends on the integrity of the paint film, and the total number of colonies at the damaged area can increase by 25 times.
 
 **3. The truth of cost: unit price competition is not as good as full-cycle calculation**
 Based on the 100㎡ wall, the comprehensive cost of diatom mud (material + labor) is about 18,000 yuan, and latex paint only costs 6,000 yuan. However, diatom mud does not need to be renovated within the life cycle of 15-20 years. Latex paint needs to be re-coated every 5 years (secondary cost increases anti-mold treatment process), and the total maintenance cost in 20 years exceeds 12% of diatom mud. In the high-humidity climate zone of the Yangtze River Delta, each household of diatom mud saves about 380 degrees of electricity per year.
 
 It is worth noting that diatom mud is not suitable for all scenarios: waterproof coatings are more suitable for extreme humid environments such as basements, and latex paint is still recommended for rental housing in the short term. Consumers need to establish decision-making models based on regional climate, usage cycles, and environmental protection needs, rather than a single choice of either one or the other. When indoor air quality has become a healthy need, the functional premium of diatom mud is reconstructing the industry's cost logic.