FAQ

• 1. How compatible are the different paint qualities?

  • All paints (acrylic, nitro combination, synthetic resin, water-based paints) can be painted over with synthetic resin paints.
  • Synthetic resin paint can only be painted over with synthetic resin paint. Acrylic lacquer or nitro combination lacquer cannot be painted on synthetic resin. This would lead to "lifting" of the paint due to incompatibility.

• 2. What should I bear in mind when determining the drying times?

  Drying times can be found in the technical data sheet of the respective product on this website. Drying times always depend on the ambient temperature, humidity and the thickness of the paint layer applied. Our drying specifications were measured at an ambient temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 50%.
  • Dust-dry: The paint layer is so dry that dust particles can no longer be trapped in the paint.
  • Touch dry: The paint is not yet fully hardened and robust, but can already be touched.
  • Reworkable: The paint can be sanded and overpainted.
  • Fully dreid: The paint has reached its final hardness.
  

• 3. What weather conditions are suitable for spraying?

  Naturally in dry weather or in dry and windproof environments. The can should be at room temperature. Optimal results are obtained when the environment is at a temperature between +15° and 25°C. The humidity should not be higher than 60%, otherwise drying would be significantly delayed.

• 4. How do you recognise the shelf life of spray cans and touch-up pens?

  There is an imprint in the bottom of our products, which may look as follows: P 06/23
  EXP 06/33
  The P stands for production: 06/23 means calendar week 06 in the year 2023.
  EXP stands for the expiry date, in this case calendar week 06 in the year 2023.
  

• 5. How do I store European Aerosols products?

  The product should be stored in the sealed original container in a dry room (max. 60 % humidity) at temperatures between 10° – 25°C. Aqua paints must be protected against frost. The products must be protected from light and direct sunlight.
  Please note: Aerosols must never be exposed to temperatures above 50°C and must be kept away from sources of ignition.

• 6. How long can I store and use the products?

  If stored properly (=10°-25°C, relative humidity of max. 60%), we guarantee a minimum shelf life of:
  • 10 years for our solvent-based paint aerosols
  • 10 years for the technical aerosols and underbody protection sprays
  • 5 years for the water-based paint aerosols
  • 5 years for the touch-up pens and brushable or sprayable underbody protection products
  • 2 years for the putty products
  

• 7. Where can one find technical data sheet and safety data sheets?

  The technical data sheet and safety data sheets for each product can be found on this homepage in the respective product description.

• 8. Why do many products have a spray protection ring? What should be considered?

  The red spray protection ring was developed to prevent unwanted spraying (e.g. by children or vandalism in the retail environment). This small red ring is located under the protective cap and under the spray head. When you remove the spray head, the ring can be easily lifted up and removed with a pointed object, e.g. a screwdriver. Please do not use force here, as this could damage the can and the contents could leak out.
  Important: the spray protection ring can be inserted again afterwards.

• 9. What is the correct way to dispose of European Aerosols products?

  Product packaging (aerosol cans, filler cans, etc.), the contents of which have been completely used, can be disposed of with household waste. Please dispose of containers with material residues via special waste. Please note the information from the DSD disposal company (green dot).

• 10. What is spray mist and how do I reduce its effects?

  At warmer temperatures, but also if the distance to the object to be painted is too large when spraying, the paint will dry while still in the air and will no longer reach the object to be painted. This air-dried lacquer settles on the surface as spray mist. Please note the spraying distance indicated on the product instructions. It should always be painted in a wind-protected area to prevent particles from settling from the spray mist on the still-wet, painted surface. The amount of spray mist that can occur depends on the amount of paint, the ventilation (wind conditions) and the application. Spray mist can spread around a room up to 10 metres. Therefore, it is recommended to cover the surrounding area carefully and extensively.

• 11. Are AQUA spray paints weather-resistant?

  The new generation of our Aqua spray paint can also be used to paint outdoor objects. The prerequisite for weather resistance is the complete hardening of the paint, which is reached after 5 days.

• 12. Can spray paints be used inside the home?

  If not extensively painted, essentially yes. However, sufficient ventilation must be ensured here. Please note the information concerning this on the can. In addition, the surrounding area must be protected from spray mist over a large area.

• 13. What safety precautions should I take when spraying?

  The required safety precautions vary from product to product. Please note the corresponding information on the product labels.
  In general, aerosols must be protected from light and direct sunlight and must not be exposed to temperatures above 50°C under any circumstances. The sprays must be kept away from sources of ignition. Never spray on flames or red-hot objects.
  Aerosol cans must never be forcibly opened or burned, even when the can is empty.
  Always ensure adequate ventilation. When using paint sprays, explosive mixtures may form in the air.
  Keep products out of reach of children.

• 14. Which clearcoat is the right one?

  • All paints (acrylic, nitro combination, synthetic resin) can be painted over with synthetic resin paints.
  • Synthetic resin coatings can only be painted with resin coatings. Acrylic varnish or nitro combination paints cannot be painted on synthetic resin. This would lead to "lifting" of the paint due to the different drying times.
  • Automotive repair paints (acrylic, nitro combination) are best overpainted with 2-coat clearcoat or 2K clearcoat, which has the best petrol resistance.
  • Effect paint such as 3D-effect, diamond effect, light-up spray, metallic should be overcoated with a clearcoat to protect the special-effect pigments. When it comes to painting a fuel-powered vehicle or parts of it, the 2K clearcoat or 2-coat clearcoat is best suited for this purpose. For more decorative purposes, the Zapon clearcoat (crystal spray) is recommended, which has the highest shine after the 2K clearcoat.
  • Granite effect spray: After drying (for around 24 hours), it is absolutely necessary to seal the granite structure and to spray it over with DUPLI-COLOR granite clearcoat or another DUPLI-COLOR clearcoat for protection (especially when painting outdoor objects).
  • Bronze effect, gold/chrome/copper effect: These effect paints cannot be protected by a clear coat. The clear coat would destroy the effect.
  • 2K Clearcoat (e.g. ColorMatic 2K Clear Coat) is particularly used in professional environments. This is particularly resistant to fuel and the effects of weather.
  

• 15. What are the qualities of the paint (acrylic, synthetic resin, etc.) in my paint spray can?

  For most products, this information is on the can label. If this is not the case, please find the information on our homepage. Here you will find a technical data sheet showing the paint qualities for each product.

• 16. How can you paint perfectly on Styrofoam?

  • Paints, i.e. also paint aerosols, usually contain solvents that attack and dissolve the Styrofoam. One exception here is water-based paint (DUPLI-COLOR AQUA ECO+). These can be safely painted directly onto styrofoam.
  • The DUPLI-COLOR range has a special colour range: "Deco Matt" These paints contain a special solvent that does not attack the polystyrene surface.
  • If you use the special styrofoam primer of DUPLI-COLOR, you can then coat the styrofoam object with any solvent-containing paint. Important here: The primer must completely cover the entire surface of the styrofoam and separate it from the subsequent coat of paint.

• 17. What must be observed when painting hard plastics?

  Plastics are sensitive to solvents and react strongly to temperature fluctuations (flexibility). In addition, you are working with a very smooth surface, which does not allow lacquer to adhere well. Therefore, pre-treatment with a plastic primer is absolutely necessary. This forms a paintable bridge between the plastic surface and the subsequent paint layer. The plastic primer is sprayed on thinly in one coat.

• 18. Why is the paint not adhering properly?

  Perhaps the substrate was not completely sanded, clean, dry and free from grease (silicone-free)? If necessary, use a degreaser or silicone remover before painting.
  For problematic surfaces, use specialist primers, e.g. for coatable plastics, a plastic primer or a styrofoam primer for styrofoam.

• 19. My paintwork has runs. How can I avoid this?

  Spray crosswise (horizontally – vertically). Start spraying outside the object. Press the spray head firmly during movement. Move the spray can slowly and evenly back and forth and carry out the turning movement around the outside of the object. This is the best way to control the spray jet and avoid too much paint on the surface, which leads to “tears” or “runs”.
  The spraying distance to the object must not be too small. Information on the spraying distance can be found on the respective product label; it is usually 15 – 25 cm.
  The optimal processing temperature is between 15° and 25°C (room temperature). The paint can, the object to be painted, and the spatial environment should be at this temperature.
  Do not attempt to achieve a smooth, opaque surface immediately during the first spray. Spraying several thin layers is better than applying the paint in a thick layer.

• 20. My paintwork looks like the surface of an orange. How can I avoid this?

  If the spraying distance is too large or the temperature is too high (>25°C), the paint will dry in the air. This mist can be reflected on your painted object in an initially matt surface. When you paint another layer, small elevations form, referred to as “orange peel”.

• 21. Why is the paintwork peeling off?

  The surface should always be more pigmented than the subsequent paintwork. Primers are highly pigmented, clearcoats do not contain any colour pigments. The optimal structure is therefore primer – colour paint – clearcoat. In addition, the surface should be ground and cleaned before applying the primer or paint. A structure with paints from different manufacturers can also lead to intolerances. Therefore always use products from the same manufacturer on an object.
  The paint cannot stick to smooth plastic surfaces. To avoid flaking, the object must always be pre-treated with a plastic primer. To clean the plastic surface, use plastic cleaner beforehand.

• 22. Why are wrinkles forming on my paintwork (paint "pulls up")?

  Synthetic resin may only be painted over with synthetic resin. The solvents in the synthetic resin evaporate slowly, while solvents in quick-drying acrylic varnishes evaporate quickly. If you then paint a quick-drying acrylic paint on a synthetic resin, the solvents in the acrylic paint will dissolve the layer underneath. Since the quick-drying acrylic paint surface seals faster than the underlying dissolved synthetic resin can dry, the varnish swells up and forms unwanted creases.
  If synthetic resin paint is painted with synthetic resin paint, it must be noted that this is done within 2 hours after the first paint or only after 24 hours, otherwise the same "tightening" effect arises here.

• 23. I do not like the paintwork. Can I remove the paint?

  It is best to remove the paint immediately after painting with nitro dilution or acetone.
  AQUA spray oaint can be washed with water and a surfactant cleanser within 20 minutes.

• 24. What is the difference between 1-coat and 2-coat paintwork?

  1-coat (single-layer) paintwork does not require coating with clearcoat.
  2-coat (dual-layer) paintwork is usually required where special pigments are used, for example in metallic/pearl/mica colour car paints. The clearcoat protects the pigments from the influence of weather and optimises the shine of the coating.

• 25. I did not spray the can to empty. Can I store it and continue to use it later?

  Spray paints are closed paint systems. This prevents the paint from drying out and we can guarantee a shelf life of 10 years. However, practice has shown that paint sprays still function perfectly 15 – 20 years after production! Of course, correct storage is important.
  With most sprays from European Aerosols, self-cleaning valves ensure that the spray heads are drained. But if you want to be completely sure, simply turn the can upside down and press the spray head for 2 – 3 seconds. In this way, only propellant gas is ejected and the valve and spray head are cleared of active substance residues (paint residues).

• 26. How do acrylic, nitro combination and synthetic resin paints differ? Which paint is right for me?

  Acrylic and nitro combination paints are particularly characterised by faster drying times and harder surfaces. For this reason, such paints are mainly used in the automotive sector.
  Synthetic resins (=alkyl resins) are easier to process for "untrained sprayers", because the coating dries more slowly and thus no visible transitions occur when the spray can is repositioned. This is particularly advantageous when painting larger surfaces (e.g. table tops, cabinet fronts).
  

• 27. AUTOMOTIVE: Special metallic surfaces (stainless steel, zinc, non-ferrous metals) – which spray paints can I use?

  Stainless steel can be painted after sanding with fine sandpaper and thorough degreasing. The same applies to galvanised surfaces. For better adhesion on stainless steel, ColorMatic 2K Epoxy primer or adhesive base is recommended.
  The ColorMatic 2K Epoxy primer should be used on zinc. Old hot-dip galvanised surfaces are best painted without sanding, after degreasing. Fresh, non-weathered hot-dip galvanised surfaces are hard to paint. After grinding and degreasing, you can apply adhesive base for aluminium and top coat. However, adhesion will always be worse than with another surface.
  Coloured metals can be protected against corrosion by overpainting with Zapon clearcoat (crystal spray). Otherwise proceed as with stainless steel. You should not apply water-based clearcoat directly on yellow metals, as this can lead to discolouration.

• 28. AUTOMOTIVE: Can you paint directly on zinc spray or is a primer required?

  Before painting, a primer must always be sprayed on, e.g. metal primer or universal primer.

• 29. AUTOMOMOTIVE: What is the zinc content for the zinc spray?

  The zinc dust content in the dry coating is over 90%.

• 30. AUTOMOTIVE: What must be observed when assigning automotive colours to the search numbers (DUPLI-COLOR Auto-Color, RAL, Original)?

  In our car catalogues, different article numbers may be specified for the same car colour. This is because there may be different variations from the apparently identical car colour. Causes of such variations may include:
  • There may be colour tolerances in the production of cars at various manufacturing sites.
  • Colour tolerances can also occur due to the different years of construction.
  

• 31. AUTOMOTIVE: Where can you find the colour code for your vehicle?

  The colour code is usually on the type plate in the engine compartment, luggage compartment or on the B-pillar where the door is opened. It usually consists of numbers or combination of numbers and letters – depending on the manufacturer brand. You can find information about this in our car colour programme, which is usually available from your specialist dealer. If you cannot find it here either, you still have the option of asking your car dealer for the colour.

• 32. AUTOMOTIVE: What is the zinc content for the zinc spray?

  The share of zinc-dust in the dry paint film is more than 90 percent.

• 33. AUTOMOTIVE: Colour deviations of the vehicle from the car spray – how do they happen?

  The lacquer of our car sprays has been redesigned and classified according to the car manufacturers' templates and to the best of our knowledge and belief.However, there may be deviations with your vehicle for the following reasons:
  • There may be colour tolerances in the production of cars at various manufacturing sites.
  • Colour tolerances can also occur due to the different years of construction.
  • Older vehicles have been exposed to the weather for a long time, such as sun, rain, hail, storm, and the original paintwork has often lost its lustre and intensity.
  

• 34. AUTOMOTIVE: How and with which products can you paint chrome parts?

  Painting chrome parts is fundamentally problematic. If you still want to paint chrome parts, they must first be sanded and cleaned, as with any other paintwork. Then prime with universal primer or even better, with the ColorMatic 2K Epoxy primer filler. Once the primer has dried, you can basically coat it with any other acrylic, nitro combination or synthetic resin paint. As these are mostly vehicle parts, acrylic or nitro combi paints are recommended here. The adhesion, even on polished chrome parts, is not comparable to normal metal surfaces.

• 35. AUTOMOTIVE: Are there colour deviations from the paint on older vehicles?

  Yes, you can expect this to be the case. UV exposure affects the shine and intensity of the colour. The older the vehicle is, the higher the deviation in colour.

• 36. AUTOMOTIVE: Are paints/putty/resins food-safe?

  No, our paints/putty/resins are not food-safe.

• 37. AUTOMOTIVE: Why does polyester resin fail to dry?

  This is not a reason for complaint, but is entirely intentional. The sticky surface forms an adhesive bridge for the subsequent putty application. If this sticky surface is not desired, it can be washed off with nitro dilution.

• 38. AUTOMOTIVE: How temperature-resistant is the paints/putties?

  Acrylic, nitro combination or synthetic resin coatings are generally temperature resistant up to 80°C.
  In addition, we have developed products for specific applications that can be exposed to higher temperatures. For example, heat-resistant spray paint (300°C – 690°C depending on colour tone), tuning supertherm (300°C – 800°C depending on colour tone), aluminium spray (600°C), zinc spray (600°C), zinc aluminium spray (300°C), brake calliper paint (140°C), putty products (120°C). These values refer to the dried, hardened state of the corresponding material.

• 39. AUTOMOTIVE: How do I paint heat-stredded objects?

  For this purpose, use the heat-resistant spray paints from our decorative line or, if you also want good petrol resistance, the Supertherm products from our tuning series. Remove rust, oil and grease from the surface and sand or sandblast well, the surface must be metallically bare! The surface must be dust-free, fat-free and dry. Shake the can well, for at least 2-3 minutes before use. Spray 2 thin layers at intervals of approximately 25 cm. Allow to dry.
  Important: the thinner the coating layer, the better the temperature resistance and adhesion. Do not prime! Do not use on chrome-plated parts! Heating to 160 - 200°C for approx. 30 - 60 minutes is a prerequisite for curing and thus full load carrying capacity of the paint layer. Some temperature data for reference: Motorcycle exhaust on manifold up to 800°C, oven/oven tubes up to 500°C, BBQs 500 - 800°C.

• 40. AUTOMOTIVE: Chrome Effect/Silver Chrome: What is the difference between these two products?

  Chrome Effect is a non-weatherproof, non-abrasion-resistant finish. This product should therefore only be used for decorative purposes.
  Chrome Effect (including gold and copper effect) cannot be overpainted with clearcoat to maintain shine! When the shine is faded, only one thing helps: just spray with a new layer of effect spray!
  With Silver Chrome, for the first time European Aerosols succeeded in developing a high-gloss, chrome-like spray paint, which is also resistant to abrasion and weathering. The shine is almost as good as the chrome effect.

• 41. AUTOMOTIVE: Are spray varnishes petrol-resistant?

  The acrylic coatings are relatively resistant to overflowing fuel. Slight swelling may occur, but this will recover after approx. 24 hours. In such a case, however, the petrol must not be wiped away, but instead it should be left for 24 hours to allow the fuel to escape from the paint layer. In this regard, the petrol resistance of the 2K clearcoat can be described as good.
  Synthetic resin-based and water-based products are not petrol-resistant, including Zapon clearcoat (Cristal spray).
  Particularly high petrol resistance is achieved with the 2K clearcoat from the ColorMatic range.

• 42. AUTOMOTIVE: Are the spray paints conductive (electrical weldability)?

  Zinc spray and aluminium spray are conductive. Our adhesive primer sprays are electro-weldable at the appropriate layer thickness. In this case, the electrical current penetrates, so that the insulating effect of the paint layer is neutralised.