Centari 600 — Axalta Solvent-Based Basecoat for Auto Body Repair

Among the mixing systems offered by Axalta Coating Systems, the Centari 600 series holds a distinct position: it is a classic solvent-borne (organic solvent) 1K basecoat, proven over years of practice in thousands of workshops. The system is designed for a wide range of working conditions — from small auto body shops to large spray booths.

What Is Centari 600

Centari 600 is a single-component (1K) solvent-borne basecoat designed for spot, partial, and full resprays of body panels on passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles. The system is built on a mixing principle: from a set of toners, the painter can achieve any of tens of thousands of factory colours using ColorNet formulas. The 600 series belongs to the SS (Standard Solids) class — standard dry film content, a proven approach with no complex preparation.

Key Specifications

• Type: 1K solvent-borne basecoat, SS class (Standard Solids)
• Thinner: AB380 (standard), AB385 (hot weather) — Centari 600 series thinners
• Mixing ratio: 1 part ready base + 0.8 parts thinner (1:0.8)
• Viscosity: 15–16 sec (DIN 4 cup at 20°C)
• Nozzle: 1.2–1.4 mm (conventional), 1.3–1.4 mm (HVLP)
• Pressure: 1.8–2.0 bar (conventional) / 0.7 bar at atomiser (HVLP)
• Number of coats: 2 coats (flash off between coats)
• Inter-coat interval: flash off to a matt surface (or 1–2 min with activator BK220)
• Time before clearcoat: flash off after final coat; maximum 3 days
• Film thickness (DFT): 10–20 µm
• Coverage: 110–140 m²/L per 1 µm dry film
• Pot life (with activator BK220): 8 hours

Application Process

The painting process with Centari 600 consists of several clear steps:

1. Surface Preparation

The surface must be sanded with P500–P600 (machine sanding) or P800–P1000 (hand sanding), degreased with anti-silicone, and wiped with an anti-static cloth. For blend areas: new/undamaged panels — Trizact P1000; repair primer — minimum P500. Primer — 2K acrylic or epoxy from the Axalta system.

2. Mixing

Toners are blended according to the ColorNet formula. Standard ratio: 1 part ready base + 0.8 parts thinner. The thinner is chosen based on temperature:

• AB380 (standard) — 15–25°C, the primary choice
• AB385 (slow, hi-temp) — 20–30°C, prevents orange peel
• XB387 / XB390 — at temperatures above 25–30°C

To improve adhesion and chip resistance, it is recommended to add 10% activator BK220 (ratio 0.9 : 0.1 : 0.8). When using clearcoat CC6700, activation with BK220 in all coats is mandatory. Pot life of the activated material is 8 hours.

3. Application

The first coat is thin and semi-opaque to establish an even orientation of the pigment. The second coat is full and wet. Flash off between coats until the surface turns matt (with the activated variant — 1–2 min). Do not rush coverage in a single pass — especially for metallics and pearls: rushing leads to mottling and cloudiness. The absence of sensitivity to air humidity is a significant advantage of solvent-borne systems.

4. Clearcoating

After the surface has uniformly flashed off, apply a 2K clearcoat from the Axalta system. The maximum time between basecoat application and clearcoat is 3 days.

Advantages of Centari 600

• Proven technology: classic solvent-borne system, familiar to any painter without additional training
• Humidity independence: unlike waterborne systems, dries consistently at any air humidity level
• Wide colour range: tens of thousands of formulas via ColorNet
• Thinner flexibility: choice of AB380 / AB385 / XB387 allows adaptation to any temperature conditions
• Compatibility: works with all standard primers and 2K clearcoats in the Axalta system
• Affordable price: the SS class makes the system optimal for high-volume auto body repair

Centari 600 vs Centari 6000 — When to Choose Which

Both systems are solvent-borne. The difference lies in the product class:

• Centari 600 (SS) — standard solids content. The ideal choice for mainstream colours (solid, standard metallics), a wide temperature range, and budget-conscious jobs.
• Centari 6000 (HS) — high solids content. Better hiding power per coat, superior orientation of complex effect pigments (pearl, xiralic, tri-stage). Justified for premium brands and complex colours.

Both systems use a shared ColorNet formula database, but have separate toner sets — they must not be mixed with each other.

Technical Documentation (TDS)

The Technical Data Sheet can be requested from your Axalta distributor or downloaded from the ColorNet portal. The TDS contains exact application parameters, compatible hardeners, thinners, and drying schedules for various temperature conditions.

Need advice on Centari 600? Contact us — we will help you select the right configuration for your workshop.