Centari 6000 — Axalta Premium Solvent-Borne Basecoat

For professional automotive painters working with complex effect colours — tri-coat, xeralic, and deep pearl finishes — the choice of basecoat is critically important. Centari 6000 from Axalta Coating Systems is a solvent-borne (organic solvent-based) basecoat with high solids content (High Solids), engineered for maximum colour accuracy and perfect orientation of effect pigments.

What is Centari 6000

Centari 6000 is a one-component (1K) premium solvent-borne basecoat. Unlike the Centari 600 series, it uses a special XB-series reducer. The high pigment and binder concentration provides better hiding power in fewer coats, and the solvent-borne formula ensures predictable drying regardless of ambient humidity.

Key Specifications

• Type: 1K solvent-borne HS basecoat (high solids solventborne basecoat)
• Reducer: XB383 (standard), XB387 (hot weather), XB390 (very slow)
• Mixing ratio: 3 parts ready-mixed base + 1 part reducer (3:1 by volume)
• Viscosity: 18–25 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; a 3rd thin orientation coat is permitted for complex effect colours
• Flash time between coats: 1–2 minutes (until surface dulls)
• Time before clearcoat: surface must dull after the last coat (10–15 min); maximum 3 days
• Film thickness (DFT): 20–30 µm (solid colours and pearls), 15–20 µm (metallics)
• Coverage: 180–210 m²/l at 1 µm dry film
• Pot life (with activator BK220): 8 hours

Advantages Over Waterborne Basecoat

Centari 6000 and Centari 600 are two different technologies with different strengths. Here is where the solvent-borne 6000 series has the edge:

Application Technology

1. Surface Preparation

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

2. Mixing

Mix the base according to the ColorNet formula using 6000 series toners. Standard ratio: 3 parts ready-mixed base + 1 part reducer. Select the reducer based on the temperature in the spray booth:

• XB383 (standard) — 15–25°C, the primary choice for most conditions
• XB387 (slow, hi-temp) — above 25°C, prevents orange peel
• XB390 (very slow) — above 30°C or very large panels

To improve adhesion and chip resistance, it is recommended to add 10% activator BK220 before adding reducer (ratio 2.7 : 0.3 : 1). When using clearcoat CC6700, activation with BK220 in all coats is mandatory. Pot life of activated material is 8 hours.

3. Application

Apply the first coat as a medium coat. After a flash time of 1–2 minutes (until the surface dulls), apply the second coat. Do not attempt to achieve full coverage in a single pass — this is especially critical for metallics and pearls, where rushing leads to mottling and uneven pigment orientation. For solid colours, two coats are usually sufficient. For transparent and bright colours, allow each coat to dull before applying the next.

4. Tri-Coat Systems (Tricoat)

For tri-coat colours (e.g. Mazda Soul Red Crystal 46V, Lexus Sonic Titanium), the process consists of three stages:

1. Ground coat — the base layer that establishes colour depth
2. Mid coat — the effect layer with pearl or xeralic pigments
3. Clearcoat — the protective finish layer

Centari 6000 ensures perfect pigment orientation in each of these layers, which is critical for accurate reproduction of the factory colour.

Who Is Centari 6000 For

• Professional body shops working with complex colours and premium vehicle brands
• Shops in high-humidity regions — solvent-borne basecoat is less sensitive to climatic conditions
• Painters switching from other solvent-borne systems — familiar technology, no equipment changes required
• Motorcycle, classic car, and custom projects — where maximum colour depth is required

Which Option to Choose: 600 or 6000?

If your shop mainly works with mainstream colours — solids and standard metallics — and material cost matters, Centari 600 (SS) is the optimal choice. Simple technology, standard equipment, and a wide temperature range.

If you specialise in complex effect paints, tri-coat systems (tricoat, xeralic), and premium brands, Centari 6000 (HS) will deliver the best results: fewer coats, better pigment orientation, and greater colour depth.

Both systems are solvent-borne and use the same equipment. The difference lies in the toners and reducers: the two systems cannot be mixed together, but switching does not require replacing your spray gun or spray booth.

Spray Gun and Film Parameters

Technical Documentation (TDS)

The full Technical Data Sheet with precise application parameters, drying times, and compatible products is available from your Axalta distributor or through the ColorNet portal. We recommend keeping the TDS in the spray booth for quick reference during application.

Want to try Centari 6000? Contact us — we will put together a starter toner kit tailored to your most popular colours.