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How-to Guides

How-to guides for matting agents

Step-by-step guides for reaching your gloss target across wood, UV, industrial, deep-matte, leather and soft-touch systems — with dosage ranges and pass/fail checks.

How to matt a water-based wood clear coat to a 10–30 GU satin

For a water-based wood clear coat, start with Vista-660 (5.0–5.3 µm) at 2–4% on total formulation, disperse into the waterborne let-down, and screen at matched gloss on a black panel. Target 10–30 GU at 60°. Confirm redispersion after a storage check before scaling.

What this covers

Clear water-based wood topcoats (furniture, flooring, joinery) aiming at a

10–30 GU satin. Pigmented water-based systems tolerate lower loading (0.5–3%).

Before you start

Production waterborne binder at target film build · Vista-660 · a finer

comparison grade · black drawdown panel · consistent disperser · gloss meter.

Steps

  1. Baseline — measure un-matted control gloss at production film build. *Judge by:* a recorded baseline reading.
  2. Add Vista-660 at 2–4% — begin at 2%, wet into the waterborne phase. *Judge by:* clean grind gauge, no streaks.
  3. Screen at matched gloss — adjust dosage to 10–30 GU; compare against the finer grade at the same gloss. *Judge by:* better black-panel clarity wins.
  4. Storage check — hold a sample and confirm it redisperses. *Judge by:* smooth redispersion, no hard lumps.
  5. Lock and scale — fix grade + dosage, confirm on pilot. *Judge by:* gloss + clarity reproduced within tolerance.

Common failures

Haze on black → move finer or improve dispersion · viscosity spike → wetting/let-down issue, not grade · re-agglomeration after storage → check seal and storage temperature.

How to know it worked

Reads 10–30 GU at 60° on production film build, clear on black, reproduced on pilot.

How to set up a UV roller-coat matte on board (5–15 GU)

For a UV roller line on board, use Vista-3550U (5.5–6.0 µm), typically 2–4% on total formulation, and cure under UV (mercury/gallium lamp) at 5–15 m/min line speed. Target 5–15 GU at 60°. Roller and spray grades are not interchangeable — keep the roller grade on the roller line.

What this covers

UV-cured roller coating on board/panel at 5–15 GU. Do not transfer this grade to a UV spray line.

Before you start

UV roller line · Vista-3550U · UV lamp (mercury or gallium) · gloss meter · cured-film test pieces.

Steps

  1. Confirm line speed and lamp — set 5–15 m/min under your UV lamp. *Judge by:* full cure (solvent/thumb-twist test passes).
  2. Add Vista-3550U at 2–4% — disperse into the UV formulation. *Judge by:* homogeneous, no seeds on grind gauge.
  3. Roll and cure a test board — apply at production roller settings and cure. *Judge by:* 5–15 GU at 60° on the cured board.
  4. Check cure at target gloss — verify the matte holds after full cure, not just wet. *Judge by:* gloss stable pre- vs post-handling.
  5. Lock settings — fix dosage, line speed and lamp power. *Judge by:* reproduced on a second board.

Common failures

Under-cure → raise lamp power or lower line speed · gloss drifts board-to-board → line speed/film weight varies · using a spray grade here → poor matte, switch to Vista-3550U.

How to know it worked

Fully cured board reads 5–15 GU at 60° at your production roller settings, reproducibly.

How to run a UV spray matte topcoat (5–15 GU)

For a UV spray topcoat, use Vista-141S (3.8–4.0 µm) at around 2–4% on total formulation and UV-cure. Its finer particle route suits spray atomisation and keeps clarity on a clear system. Target 5–15 GU at 60°. Do not substitute a roller grade.

What this covers

UV-cured spray topcoats at 5–15 GU where atomisation and clarity matter.

Before you start

UV spray setup · Vista-141S · UV lamp · black panel · gloss meter.

Steps

  1. Baseline spray — spray and cure the un-matted control. *Judge by:* recorded baseline gloss and clean atomisation.
  2. Add Vista-141S at 2–4% — disperse fully; the finer grade needs good wetting. *Judge by:* no nozzle spitting, clean grind gauge.
  3. Spray and cure test panel — at production spray settings. *Judge by:* 5–15 GU at 60°, clear on black.
  4. Confirm feel and clarity — check for smooth hand, no bloom. *Judge by:* smooth touch, no white cast on black.
  5. Lock parameters — fix dosage and spray settings. *Judge by:* reproduced on a second panel.

Common failures

Nozzle clog/spit → improve dispersion, confirm fine grade fully wetted · haze on black → dispersion or move finer · rough hand → re-match at gloss, don't over-load.

How to know it worked

Cured spray panel reads 5–15 GU at 60°, clear on black, smooth to touch.

How to hold low gloss on a coil coating through a high-temperature bake

For a coil topcoat, use Vista-171S (7.0–7.5 µm), matched to your gloss target, and confirm it holds through a PMT 210–250°C bake for 20–40 s. Target 10–25 GU at 60°. High-structure grades hold matte at high film build and fast cure better than fine clear-system grades.

What this covers

Coil and industrial metal topcoats at 10–25 GU running a high-temperature bake.

Before you start

Coil line or bake oven simulating PMT 210–250°C · Vista-171S (or Vista-361C) · gloss meter · test coupons.

Steps

  1. Set the bake — PMT 210–250°C, 20–40 s to match your line. *Judge by:* correct PMT reached on a thermocouple coupon.
  2. Add Vista-171S — disperse into the coil formulation at the screened dosage. *Judge by:* clean grind gauge.
  3. Coat and bake a coupon — at production film build and PMT. *Judge by:* 10–25 GU at 60° after full bake.
  4. Verify gloss holds through cure — compare gloss pre- and post-full-bake. *Judge by:* no gloss rise after the high-temp bake.
  5. Lock and scale — fix grade, dosage, film build. *Judge by:* reproduced on a second coupon.

Common failures

Gloss rises after bake → move to a higher-structure grade (Vista-361C/381C) · matte uneven at high film build → dosage or structure too low · durability short → confirm cure schedule.

How to know it worked

Coupon holds 10–25 GU at 60° through PMT 210–250°C / 20–40 s at production film build.

How to reach a deep matte (2–8 GU) without a rough surface

For a deep matte at 2–8 GU, use Vista-1650A (6.2–6.5 µm) and expect higher loading — clear systems can run up to 5–8% for a deep matte. Reach the gloss with a high-structure route and manage feel with dispersion and film build so the surface stays smooth.

What this covers

Deep matte finishes at 2–8 GU where a flat, smooth surface is required.

Before you start

Production binder · Vista-1650A · black panel · gloss meter · touch-test reference.

Steps

  1. Baseline — record control gloss at production film build. *Judge by:* baseline reading.
  2. Add Vista-1650A, build toward 5–8% — deep matte needs higher loading; add stepwise. *Judge by:* gloss trending to 2–8 GU.
  3. Manage feel — keep dispersion consistent; if rough, lift film build slightly rather than over-loading. *Judge by:* smooth touch test.
  4. Confirm on black — deep matte exposes any bloom. *Judge by:* 2–8 GU, no white cast.
  5. Lock — fix dosage and film build. *Judge by:* reproduced on pilot.

Common failures

Rough/dry hand → don't push loading further; lift film build or use higher structure · bloom on black → dispersion or finer route · gloss won't drop below ~8 → move to a higher-structure grade (Vista-3851).

How to know it worked

Reads 2–8 GU at 60°, smooth to touch, no bloom on black, reproduced on pilot.

How to matt a dark leather or synthetic-leather finish without white bloom

For dark leather and synthetic-leather finishes, use Vista-131A (3.2–3.5 µm) at 5–15 GU, and always screen on a dark/black substrate. The fine particle route keeps clarity so no white bloom shows on dark; coarse grades read as haze.

What this covers

Dark leather and synthetic-leather topcoats at 5–15 GU where bloom on dark is the risk.

Before you start

Leather/synthetic topcoat system · Vista-131A · dark or black substrate · gloss meter.

Steps

  1. Screen on dark from the start — never qualify bloom on white. *Judge by:* using a black/dark drawdown.
  2. Add Vista-131A — disperse fully; fine grade needs good wetting. *Judge by:* clean grind gauge.
  3. Apply and check clarity — at production process. *Judge by:* 5–15 GU at 60°, no white cast.
  4. Check hand/flex — leather needs smooth, flexible feel. *Judge by:* smooth touch, no cracking on flex.
  5. Lock — fix grade and dosage. *Judge by:* reproduced on a second dark piece.

Common failures

White bloom on dark → move finer / improve dispersion · stiff or cracking film → check flexibility of the whole system · uneven matte → application consistency.

How to know it worked

Dark piece reads 5–15 GU at 60°, no white bloom, smooth and flexible.

How to build a soft-touch matte with a smooth tactile feel

For a soft-touch matte, use Vista-341S (4.1–4.4 µm) at 5–15 GU. The particle route is chosen for a smooth, warm hand rather than maximum gloss reduction; dispersion quality and film build carry the feel as much as dosage.

What this covers

Soft-touch topcoats at 5–15 GU where tactile feel is the priority.

Before you start

Soft-touch binder system · Vista-341S · touch-test reference · gloss meter.

Steps

  1. Define the target feel — agree a reference sample for "smooth". *Judge by:* an agreed touch reference.
  2. Add Vista-341S — disperse thoroughly. *Judge by:* clean grind gauge, no grit.
  3. Match gloss and feel together — 5–15 GU while keeping a smooth hand. *Judge by:* gloss on target AND touch matches reference.
  4. Adjust via film build, not over-loading — if feel is off, change film build first. *Judge by:* smoother hand without losing matte.
  5. Lock — fix dosage and film build. *Judge by:* reproduced sample matches reference.

Common failures

Gritty feel → improve dispersion, don't over-load · feel good but gloss high → re-match at target gloss · inconsistent hand → film build varies.

How to know it worked

Reads 5–15 GU at 60° with a smooth hand matching the agreed reference.

How to disperse a silica matting agent correctly (avoid seeds and viscosity spikes)

Disperse silica matting agent by adding it into a well-wetted let-down under consistent shear, checking the grind gauge for seeds, and holding mixing speed, time and temperature constant. Good dispersion prevents haze, grit and false viscosity climbs — most "grade" problems are dispersion problems.

What this covers

Any Vistamatt grade in solventborne or waterborne systems where dispersion quality drives the result.

Before you start

Disperser · grind gauge · viscometer · the target grade · wetting additive if used.

Steps

  1. Wet the powder in — add slowly into a wetted phase, avoid dumping. *Judge by:* no floating agglomerates.
  2. Apply consistent shear — fixed speed/time; record them. *Judge by:* logged mixing parameters.
  3. Check grind gauge — pull down and read. *Judge by:* no seeds/streaks above spec.
  4. Check viscosity — some rise is normal for high surface area; a sharp spike signals wetting/dispersion. *Judge by:* viscosity within working range.
  5. Standardise — freeze the procedure across batches. *Judge by:* repeatable grind and viscosity.

Common failures

Seeds on gauge → longer/higher shear or better wetting · sharp viscosity spike → wetting issue, not grade · haze after cure → incomplete dispersion.

How to know it worked

Clean grind gauge, viscosity in working range, and repeatable results batch to batch.

How to qualify Vistamatt as a second source on one product line

Qualify a second source by matching the incumbent grade's D50 and structure to a Vistamatt grade, screening it side-by-side against your current control on one product line at matched gloss, and collecting TDS/SDS/COA. Introduce on a single line first, not the whole portfolio.

What this covers

Formulators de-risking supply by adding a qualified second source without disrupting production.

Before you start

One target product line · incumbent grade parameters (D50, structure, treatment) · matched Vistamatt grade · your current control · document set.

Steps

  1. Pick one line — lowest-risk product to trial. *Judge by:* a single chosen line, not a portfolio switch.
  2. Match parameters — map incumbent D50/structure to a Vistamatt grade. *Judge by:* a defensible parameter match.
  3. Screen side-by-side — Vistamatt vs your control, matched gloss, identical process. *Judge by:* comparable clarity, dispersion, durability.
  4. Collect documents — TDS, SDS, representative COA on file. *Judge by:* complete verified document set.
  5. Decide and widen — qualify this line, then consider others. *Judge by:* on-tolerance result + documents complete.

Common failures

Switching too much at once → stay on one line · matching on D50 only → include structure and treatment · paperwork gap → request full set up front (TDS/SDS/COA).

How to know it worked

Matched grade reproduces gloss, clarity and durability on the trial line within tolerance, documents verified.

How to prepare a sample request that comes back with a screening plan

To get a sample that ships with a screening plan rather than just a grade code, send four things: resin system, target gloss and the standard you measure against, application method and film build, and the specific problem you are solving. Vistamatt then proposes a starting grade and dosage range for your system.

What this covers

Any formulator requesting evaluation samples who wants a usable trial, not just powder.

Before you start

Your system details (the four items below) · a defined gloss target · destination market (for document format).

Steps

  1. State the resin system — binder chemistry and cure. *Judge by:* system clearly specified.
  2. State target gloss + standard — e.g. 10–30 GU at 60°. *Judge by:* a measurable target.
  3. State application + film build — spray/roller/brush and thickness. *Judge by:* method and film build given.
  4. State the problem — haze, bloom, settling, burnish, etc. *Judge by:* the specific issue named.
  5. Send and receive plan — Vistamatt proposes grade + starting dosage. *Judge by:* sample arrives with a screening plan.

Common failures

"Just send a sample" → without the four items the trial has no plan · no gloss standard → results aren't comparable · wrong SDS format → state destination market up front.

How to know it worked

Sample arrives with a proposed grade, starting dosage range and screening plan matched to your system.

Screen this on your own system

Send us your resin system, target gloss, application method and film build, and the sample ships with a screening plan.

Request samples with a screening plan →