Understanding Zolatone Coatings

Before You StartHow the Zolatone Process delivers its unique multi-colored, textured coating.The Zolatone coating consists of 2 components; a background (or base) material and the color fleck. This color fleck (and the mechanism for delivering it) is highly unique and is part of the proprietary Zolatone Process. The color fleck also demands special handling and application techniques for successful use.The Zolatone coating's color fleck material is sealed in a chemical capsule when it is manufactured. This capsule is opened up during the spraying process to create the textured, multi-colored Zolatone finish. It's kind of like putting paint into tiny chemical balloons; and then dropping those little balloons to create a multi-colored look.Since the color fleck capsules are designed to be opened up during the spray process, product preparation (mixing) is critical. If Zolatone coating is mixed incorrectly or too vigorously, the color fleck capsules may rupture, allowing the color fleck to blend with the background color, or may adhere to each other, making the material too lumpy to spray. If the Zolatone coating is not sprayed correctly the color flecks will not be opened and blended at the right time or in the right proportions. It's really quite easy to apply Zolatone coatings perfectly every time. But, for a Zolatone application to look like our color samples, it is necessary to follow our instructions completely.

Mix Zolatone Coatings Exactly Like This

During storage and shipment the color flecks will come together at the center and bottom of the can. A layer of clear liquid may form on the top.

When you first open a can of Zolatone coating you will probably see a layer of clear liquid that has separated and risen to the top of the can. You may actually see the contents of the can moving on their own. Don't be alarmed. Zolatone coating comprises specialized chemicals which are active, unlike an ordinary paint.As you can see in the drawing, the color fleck capsules will have migrated to the center and bottom of the can. The color flecks always remain in suspension and do not adhere to each other. A gentle stirring will redistribute the color flecks through out the background material. To keep from breaking the color flecks during stirring and to insure proper fleck distribution, we ask that you follow this procedure exactly.

Step 1

Begin stirring gently at the top and around the sides of the can. Do not stir in the middle at this point!

Begin stirring gently at the top of the can and around the sides. This will start to mix the liquid while the motion of the background material begins to redistribute the color flecks.

Step 2

As you continue to stir gently around the sides of the can, gradually insert the stick farther into the can and more toward the middle. Do not push the stir stick through the mass of color flecks!

Gradually insert the stirring stick further into the can and more toward the middle. You may begin to GENTLY bump the mass of color flecks to help redistribution.

Step 3

Be sure to stir gently and work your way down the sides and the middle of the can. By the time you reach the bottom, the Zolatone coating should be completely mixed.

Continue to insert the stirring stick further into the material as you stir gently with a more up and down motion. By the time you reach the bottom of the can with the stirring stick, the color flecks and the background material should be thoroughly mixed.

Do not use an agitator or shaker.

You may "box" Zolatone coating by pouring it back and forth from one
container to another after uniformly intermixing as described above.