stardustcolors | The blog of Stardustcolors paints

17 May 201324 September 2021 stardustcolors Uncategorised

Chrome paint

We use only the highest quality raw materials when manufacturing this paint.

In comparison with chrome paints of competing brands, our chrome paint is by far superior, according to many users reviews:
-Pure mirror chrome aspect
-Very pleasant to work with, non harmful
-Instant dry
-Good concentration and coverage power
-Excellent adhesion

Chrome spray paint

We have developed the first chrome spray paint that creates real chrome look on all small size objects. The spray is equipped with a special nozzle and the paint is always used on a black, hard and glossy background.

How to make chrome paint ?

Adhesion

We cannot guarantee the perfect adhesion of the chrome paint as it is applied on a surface that is obligatorily not sanded.
However, chrome paint shows excellent adhesion.
Paint adhesion tests, including by tearing, shows adhesion strength up to 4MPa.

What NOT to do : Never polish, nor use polishing products such as PolyLustre, or a polisher for the undercoat, or the paint will peel.

Excellent resistance

Chrome paint, once it has been clear coated, is as resistant as any automotive paint.

-Resists to high temperatures up to 300°C.
-Not sensitive to UV sun rays.
-Can be sanded and re top coated to repair a scratch

Any type of substrates (plastic, polycarbonate, metal, aluminium, wood) can be used as a support for Chrome paint.

Coloured chrome paint

You can also combine chrome paint with our Candy paint colours to get coloured chrome mirror finish (as shown in the picture below). The effect is very simple to achieve.

After having applied the chrome paint and let it dry thoroughly, add a few drops of concentrated Candy paint to the clear coat, mix and apply directly on the chrome surface.

The result is always amazing.

Our chrome paint also exists in GOLD effect complete kit, that provides a very close imitation of gold mirror like surface, also designed for various types of substrates, for an unique shine.

Our chrome paint is proposed in different packings and is available immediately in stock.

FAST DELIVERY UK 48 hours.

Place your order at StardustColors UK

28 April 20134 September 2021 stardustcolors Uncategorised

CHROME PLATING

Chrome paint is the result of a technological innovation. It made its appearance a few years ago and since then has become an affordable product.

This product allows to paint a chrome like finish on any type of substrate (metal, aluminium, plastic, wood, polycarbonate) with a 90% guaranteed chrome effect.

Very easy to use, with a spray gun, and doesn’t require any special equipment!

Its other big advantage is that it is not harmful and environmentally friendly (composition: 95% alcohol)

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Chroming rims

Chrome paint is suitable for auto parts like wheels or bumpers. In such cases, top coating is essential to protect the paint from shocks and scratches.

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Decorative chrome plating

Chrome plating is a popular finish, not only in automotive paint, but also in the field of design, bottling and industry.

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Methods of chrome plating

The other methods for chrome plating are:

– the chrome machine (quite expensive)

– the chrome galvanized bathroom (now highly regulated in Europe)

– the chrome vaccuum plating (pieces limited size)

The mirror chrome paint, manufactured by Pearls and Flakes, is by far the best compromise in term of cost and time.

You will clearly see big savings and gain of time.

A 250ml can allows to paint 8 rims!

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Applying chrome paint

The painting itself is quite easy.

The most important is to have prepared the surface with a hard, glossy and black undercoat prior to the painting. The harder and glossy it s, the better chance of getting a beautiful mirror chrome effect.

Chrome paint dries instantly, but requires 2 to 4 days to fully cure.

Chrome paint can be baked at 150 ° C to accelerate the drying of the paint.

The delicate stage is the top coat that requires a great deal of skill. But thanks to the significant experience we have developed with our clients, we have designed a simple technique to clear coat over the chrome paint.

WITH TOP COAT WITHOUT TOP COAT

9 April 20139 December 2022 stardustcolors Uncategorised

Shedding light on photoluminescence

Fluorescence, phosphorescence and black light are terms that are often confused.

These three different names have all different effects and are all members of the photoluminescence family.

Photoluminescent paints refer to all types of paints which molecules are excited by light and which re-emit the energy absorbed as visible light.

StardustColors manufactures a wide range of photoluminescent paints.

· Fluorescent paints

They are well known for their « flashy » colours and are used in many fields.

Main characteristic: Display intense colour during the day.
Located in a visibility area, they have the unique ability to catch the public eye thanks to their bright intensity.

What are fluorescent paints ?
They absorb the light and reflect it immediately.

The most seen colours of the light spectrum to the human eye:

– during the day the human eye is sensitive to colours from yellow to orange

– while during the night, or at nightfall, green is best perceived

StardustColors manufactures 7 fluorescent colours: white, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, green and blue !

Note : Fluorescent paints react very strongly under black light.
Note : They are semi transparent.

· Phosphorescent paints

They work in much the same way as fluorescent ones, except that they release slowly the light.
The phosphorescent molecules, made out of natural materials, are excited by any source of light, and slowly release the energy in the form of phosphorescence.

Main characteristics: Invisible during the day, but clearly visible in total darkness

StardustColors produces by far the largest range of colours in Europe with 7 colours available : purple, blue, blue-green, green, orange, red, white.

StardustColors can help you through your project, to produce all kind of phosphorescent materials such as plastics, fabrics, adhesives and various objects.

Note: Some colours such as purple seem less strong, as their wavelength emission make them difficult to detect by the human eye. They are the shortest wavelength of visible light.

· Blacklight paint

They are also called ultraviolet or Blacklight.

These products have the particularity of reacting to waves ranges between 365 and 395nm (ultra violet light).
When exposed to UV blacklight, the paints, that were invisible, suddenly display bright colours.
Lamps, neon lighting or blacklight LED are usually used.
Used mainly in some recreational activities or in scientific fields or for security purpose (bank notes) they are quite recent.

Main characteristics: Invisible during the day, they become visible in total darkness

StardustColors creates 6 colours: yellow, pink, red, purple, blue and green (all invisible when exposed to blacklight).

Advantage: They don’t fade and their glow stays up through the entire night.
Disadvantage: They don’t resist to daylight.

· Infrared ink

Latest innovation from StardustColors, this special invisible technology, applied to scientific and medical use, glows very brightly (green) under a source of infrared light (980nm)

For further information, please contact us at : infos@stardustcolors.com

15 March 201316 June 2025 stardustcolors Uncategorised

Artists, Designers, Architects !!

StardustColors specializes producing paints

for automotive, but not only!

Our paints prove big hit with architects and designers

Today, a very large number of European or International clients, are interested in our pigments and in our special effects paints.

Architects and interior designers
Sculptors, designers (works of art, furniture…)
Manufacturers and scientists (clocks makers, chemical industry)
Bottling (perfumes, crystal glassware)

Our photoluminescent paints and materials

Our phosphorescent paints and photoluminescent products are also very popular and often represent an innovative solution for :

Buildings welcoming general public, to ensure safety in performance venues, trains, hotels, nightclubs.
Events during the day or at night

High tech products designed for artists

Everybody agrees that we offer the technical expertise and the necessary advices for the study and achievement of ambitious projects.

From the preparation of substrates such as concrete, or aluminium cladding, to the application of phosphorescent paint for architectural and artistic projects or of chrome paint resistant to bad weather conditions.

Our paints can be applied over various substrates such as glass, woods and mediums, metals or plastics and allow to many artists, sculptors and designers to fully realise their ideas.  We propose a full range of adhesion primers.

24 February 201324 September 2021 stardustcolors Uncategorised

2K paints and 1K basecoats

This post concerns only sprayable paints used in automotive and design.
Below is a clarification for outsiders who wish to distinguish between the various names of paints used !

Lacquers or 2K paints (solvent based). *don’t exist in water based version

They are paints with a hard, resistant, ‘glossy finish’ and as such don’t need to be topcoated.

These products are polyurethane based, thick paints and are bi-component because they always go with a hardener.
The hardener will allow to trigger the hardening and the drying of the paint.
They can be thinned reasonably up to 15%

Advantages:
– Time saving (they are both paint and protective clear coat)
– High resistance to thinners, oils, alcohols…

Disadvantages:
– Very thick
– Long drying time
– Risks of sagging
– Once the hardener has been added, they must be used within 30mn, if not they will become unusable

They are mostly used for the painting of trucks/buses and in industry.

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1K Paints are available in solvent based or waterborne (water-based) versions:

Solvent based :
They have many names, which often leads to confusion:

« 1K basecoat»
« Mono-component paint»
« 1K paint»

They have a matt aspect and must be topcoated.
These paints are used mainly in automotive paint and are called 2-coats since they are part of a two-stage system : Basecoat + Clear coat.
They are mono component, meaning that no hardener is required since they dry in the air.

When they dry they display a dull and matt aspect. It’s only after having been topcoated that they show their final aspect.

Advantages:
– Almost immediate drying, and therefore little risk of drip
– Excellent fluidity, and thinning down possible up to 100%!
– Very fine: With only a thickness between 20 and 40µm, they don’t create thick layers or variations in paint thickness called “steps”
– Unlimited shelf life and possibility of reuse as no hardener nor catalyzer is used.

Disadvantages:
When they are not topcoated, 1K paint are not very resistant. Thus, it’s important to be careful with liquids such as oil, thinner and alcohol.
Clear coat is imperative

They are ideal for the application of airbrush paint which requires high precision and very fine nozzles.

9 February 20139 December 2022 stardustcolors Uncategorised

Learn all about phosphorescent paint

StardustColors is a leader in Europe in the manufacture of photoluminescent paints and materials.  Our products are aimed at private individuals and at safety, design and architecture professionals.

What is the aspect during the day ?

Our phosphorescent paints are more or less colourless and transparent during the day. The most colourless ones are the purple, the white and the red. While green and blue green are of a greenish white colour.

What is their lifetime ?

Our photoluminescent products are from the latest generation and thus have a very good resistance to UV and an estimated lifespan of 15 to 25 years. Our special polyurethane formulation gives them an incomparable solidity.

PU paints for outdoors are suitable for floors and walls, are perfectly liquid-proof and resistant to chemical products, can bear temperatures above 150°C. Be careful with the support used: different substrates require different adhesion primers in order to get a quality work : Wood, Aluminium, Metal, Plastic, Paint, Concrete…

StardustColors manufactures a second version, ultra concentrated : the SIGNAL phosphorescent paint.

The composition of this remarkable paint is the same, and allows to obtain a phosphorescence 2 times stronger.

On what depend the intensity and duration of

phosphorescence ?

– On time: The luminosity curve (see the table below) shows a decline with time. After several days the residual phosphorescence will be reduced to nothing.

–On the thickness of the coat of paint: The thicker it is, the more it will absorb light. To be more specific, the more coats of paint are applied, the longer the phosphorescence will last and the more intense.

–On the type of colour : Some colours last longer and have a stronger intensity: the strongest one is green, followed by blue green. The other colours are of medium (red, white, blue) or of low intensity (purple).

–On the light source : The phosphorescent paint needs enough natural or artificial light sources to charge.

–On the ambient luminosity: The phenomenon of phosphorescence will appear in total darkness. A parameter to take into account, as in some high luminous places (e.g., The city at night with urban lightings), it will lose all or part of its luminosity.

–On the temperature : It’s a criteria to bear in mind because the cold slows down the molecules that produce phosphorescence, while heat makes the molecules excited !

– On the colour of the background: Phosphorescent paints being transparent, they reach their maximum intensity when applied over a white background. On the other hand, a black background will limit their intensity to the minimum.

NEW:  Stardustcolors is the first company that proposes a polyurethane paint which is 100% water based and solvent-free, and which displays the same resistance qualities. This version is ideal for an indoor application, odourless and without toxic fumes (stairwells, schools, hotels…)

24 January 201316 June 2025 stardustcolors Uncategorised

Diamond Effects

The White Diamond Effect

Exclusively made from the latest generation of Diamond pearls (transparent materials made from glass of exceptional purity), the Diamond paint range allows a strong glitter effect, and an incomparable resistance to weather conditions.

As of today, the Diamond pearls are the highest quality of pearl effect: They are made of a thin plate of transparent silicate, electrocoated with titanium dioxide.

White Diamond pearl paint:

Suitable for automotive, decoration as well (furniture, architecture, design…), the White diamond effect is very easy to apply.

How to get a icy-white effect, with a « whiter than white » look ? Simply by adding to the paint a drop of our candy concentrate: The blue will be undetectable and the final aspect of the paint will be of a polar white colour !

Cosmic Diamond White effect:

This paint is exclusively manufactured by StardustColors and is the high-end version of the the White effect: It produces a multicoloured iridescence. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to take a satisfactory image yet.
Tip: A drop of this effect sprayed on a dark background, allows to create the iridescent black colour that you get on the Harley Davidsons.

Opalescent effect:

A step further in intense effects.

This paint, still part of the white diamond family, is very rare and creates a double or triple reflection of iridescent colour, like opal gemstone.

18 January 20139 December 2022 stardustcolors Uncategorised

Phosphorescent Products

What is it ?

The phenomenom is observed when a material still keeps emitting light after having been exposed to sun or to a source of light

How does it work ?

It stores all type of luminous energy (natural or artificial) and thanks to a molecular process, it reflects back the energy under the form of light.

When the paint is exposed to a source of light, it absorbs the photons.

Composition: Strontium Aluminium , Al2O3, rare earth elements. Found not harmful, non-radioactive product !

Advantages

• Compared to an expensive electrical signal, phosphorescence doesn’t depend on an electricity source and thus is not affected by power outages.

• Installed quickly, cost-effective, invisible by day, very resistant indoors and outdoors (under the sun or the rain), and the effect lasts up to 25 years without specific maintenance. Note that this product is not radioactive !

Application

Important for local communities and buildings that receive visitors, used for safety and in industry, and by sculptors and architects as well for art and design.

* For decoration:
Phosphorescent products can be used for decoration, design and design furnitures.

You can particularly use phosphorescent mosaic tiles in bathrooms, as phosphorescent stones and pebbles can help you in arranging gardens, etc.

Decoration: mosaics, stones and pebbles, sand, phosphorescent paint.

* For safety, signals and industries:

The European NF EN1838 standard gives very precise outlines :
– Allow the evacuation of areas,
– Ensure easy location of safety and fire fighting equipments

– Reduce the risk of panic and maintain visibility in hazardous areas

– Faciliate eventual emergency services
The means required:
– A location lighting of the paths to follow
– A minimum of lighting of evacuation routes and around safety equipments

We also offer a wide range of solvent-based or water-based paints for walls and floors and for supports such as wood, concrete, metal, etc.

For safety and signals:
Phosphorescents Adhesives
Phosphorescent retro-reflective tapes
Phosphorescent adhesive arrow tapes
Anti-slip tapes
Luminescent stair nosings
Photoluminescent paint