Once an adequate primer has been applied to the bodywork, the top coat can be applied, which is the most important for the final result of the painting: the color.
There are different types of color that can be applied, but for almost all non-commercial vehicles in circulation, the one used is the matte base coat.
Characteristics of the matte base coat
As the name suggests, this type of color appears matte to the eye, so it is not possible to apply only the matte base coat to achieve a sparkling bodywork: it is in fact necessary to cover it with an additional layer of clear coat, two-component for greater protection.
It is not even sufficient for a matte finish.
The color, in fact, is single-component and therefore does not have the resistance characteristics required by the outermost layer of the paintwork, which are provided by a catalyst.
To obtain a matte finish, therefore, it will still be necessary to apply a two-component clear coat with a matte effect and not a glossy one over the matte base coat.
Even if the color is single-component, it is still possible to add an activator to give more adhesion to the clear coat and avoid future flaking: however, this is not a standard procedure, it is only resorted to in specific cases.
Which matte base coat to choose?
Matte base coats can be:
Current regulations stipulate that only water-based matte base coats can be used in Europe, California, and Canada, while there are no similar restrictions in the rest of the world.
The main manufacturers of matte base coats are five large multinationals:
- Akzo Nobel, with the brands Lesonal and Sikkens;
- Axalta, which includes Cromax, Spies Hecher, and Standox;
- Basf, with the brands Glasurit and RM;
- PPG, which includes Maxmeyer, Nexa Autocolor, and PPG;
- Ilspar, with the brands Debeer and Octoral.
However, the market is not exclusively dominated by foreign companies: in Italy there are two important manufacturers of matte base paints, namely Lechler and Palinal, from Como and Brescia respectively.
These manufacturers produce water-based and solvent-based matte base coats, with the latter having to be below 420g/L of VOC to comply with regulations, a parameter that is always followed.
It should be noted, however, that to adapt to the reference market, solvent-based matte base coats constitute a minority: the only ones currently marketed are Glasurit and RM bases, which are in fact marked with the flame symbol.
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