Crystaleen How To

Crystaleen Overview

 

Crystaleen® is a professional & patented ceramic coating technology owned by TopCoat®, designed to last 5 years with one application. It is a permanent coating by design, and so advanced it was only available to auto dealers and certified installers...until now... Now, you can get the same professional ceramic coating at a fraction of the cost a pro would charge you to apply it, and be able to coat multiple vehicles! To inspire confidence, TopCoat® Crystaleen® contains the most advanced ceramic technologies money can buy, superior to any other hard-coat ceramic on the market!
Example: One major advantage Crystaleen has over any other ceramic is the ability to layer. Unlike other professionally installed ceramics on the market, Crystaleen actually layers indefinitely, getting thicker while increasing performance with each additional coat, bonding chemically to the surface, and to itself, cross-linking into one impenetrable layer. Applying multiple coats of Crystaleen® is not required, but additional coats only enhance protection, durability, hydrophobicity, gloss and depth of shine.
Another example is Crystaleen's unique ability to flex and bend with the surface its applied too, preventing cracking, peeling, chipping, or flaking from movement, constant vibrations, or the need to flex 18 to 25 degrees in either direction.
Oh and don't forget Crystaleen® offers a 7H hard and durable barrier. It's as hard as you would ever need (or want) a ceramic to be... especially considering anything higher like 8H, 9H or 10H is as hard as a diamond and would be so brittle it would easily crack and chip off the surface it was applied to.
And the best part….you don't need to be a Pro to apply it! We made it so easy to apply you can do it yourself without any special equipment or clean rooms, and everything comes in the kit. Just follow our directions, check out these application videos, or call our free detailing hotline and speak with a real professional who can walk you through any questions or concerns. Easy!

How to Apply Crystaleen

Crystaleen® was specially formulated for easy application, made as a friendly do-it-yourself ceramic that completely eliminates the need for clean rooms, 48-72 hour undisturbed cure times, controlled humidity levels, and other conditions that every other “professionally” applied ceramic must adhere to or catastrophic failures will be inevitable. Crystaleen has none of those issues. With a proprietary (and patented) formula made for easy use, a simple 2 stage application process that layers with every coat, and an immediate cure time so you don't have to wait days for it, Cystaleen’s technology keeps it easy. The following sections will walk you through the exact process of applying Crystaleen and getting professional results.

 

1. Preparing Your Surface

 

The surface to be coated must be clean, dry and free from dirt, oily residue, grime, loose oxidation, spores (mildew), or any other contaminants that could affect product performance. If you have a wax, polish, sealant, or coating on the surface it must be stripped (removed) before Crystaleen can be applied. (To strip a coating use TopCoat UnCoat and follow the directions on the bottle.) It is imperative to fully and completely clean the surface, as CRYSTALEEN® adheres through chemical bonding and must gain direct and proper contact with the original virgin surface. Additionally, Crystaleen will enhance the surface its applied to in addition to protecting it, so it's important to note that what your surface looks like before will show through after Crystaleen has been applied. Therefore, it is important to do any paint or surface corrections BEFORE applying Crystaleen. This can include; buffing, polishing, clay bar-ing, stain and scratch removal, and more. The better your surface looks before you apply Crystaleen, the better it will look after application.The surface to be coated must be clean, dry and free from dirt, oily residue, grime, loose oxidation, spores (mildew), or any other contaminants that could affect product performance. If you have a wax, polish, sealant, or coating on the surface it must be stripped (removed) before Crystaleen can be applied. (To strip a coating use TopCoat UnCoat and follow the directions on the bottle.) It is imperative to fully and completely clean the surface, as CRYSTALEEN® adheres through chemical bonding and must gain direct and proper contact with the original virgin surface. Additionally, Crystaleen will enhance the surface its applied to in addition to protecting it, so it's important to note that what your surface looks like before will show through after Crystaleen has been applied. Therefore, it is important to do any paint or surface corrections BEFORE applying Crystaleen. This can include; buffing, polishing, clay bar-ing, stain and scratch removal, and more. The better your surface looks before you apply Crystaleen, the better it will look after application.

Detailing 101:

Do all prep work, washing, and ceramic application out of the sun, in ambient temperature. Do not do any work in freezing conditions.

Surfaces Crystaleen Can Be Applied To:

• Painted surfaces
• Clear coated surfaces
• Denim/Matte surfaces
• Metal
• Chrome
• Plastic
• Glass/mirrored glass
• Wheels
• Carbon Fiber

2. Preparing Crystaleen For Use

 

Each Crystaleen kit comes with the following:

• Stage 1 solution in bottle
• Stage 2 solution in bottle
• Applicator pad
• Buffing towels
• 1 pour cap (for stage 1)
• 1 spray trigger (for stage 2)

3. Work In Sections

 

One of the most important aspects of successful Crystaleen applications is understanding the concept of “sectioning”. For best results watch the demonstration video above.

Key takeaways from the video:

• Work in smaller 2ft x 2ft sections
• Slightly overlap your sections
• Crystaleen bonds to itself so there is no need to worry about “dry edges” where your sections touch. It will not happen.
• ALWAYS final buff the Crystaleen coating by hand with a clean and dry TopCoat premium MycroPro 18” white microfiber polishing towel to ensure proper mixing, shine, and coating adherence.

4. Crystaleen Application

 

For best results watch the video and see exactly how Crystaleen is applied.

Basic Application Instructions: 

• Pour Stage 1 onto the applicator pad until wet but not dripping. Then wipe onto the surface in a 2’x2’ section making sure the whole area is covered.
• Immediately spray Stage 2 evenly over the 2’x2’ section you just applied Stage 1 to.
• With a clean & dry premium white microfiber towel, buff both Stages together into the surface to a smooth and lustrous shine. (Always buff a slightly larger area than the 2’x2’ area you coated to get missed spots.)
• With a 2nd clean premium white microfiber towel do a final buff until clear, smooth, and polished. (Always buff a slightly larger area than the 2’x2’ area you coated.)
• Repeat process until entire vehicle is done.
• Always use Stage 1 & Stage 2 in equal amounts when applying.

5. Crystaleen Curing & Off Gassing Process

 

Once Crystaleen is fully buffed in following the instructions and/or the application video, Crystaleen has already cured 75% and is safe to be used. This means that you can drive the vehicle, get it wet or dirty, get rained on, or just used as a regular vehicle directly after applying Crystaleen. The coating will be cure 100% in 7 to 10 days after the initial application (depends on atmospheric conditions). During the 7 to 10 window, Crystaleen is “off gassing” and reacting with itself and the atmosphere to completely cure into its final fully hardened 7H state

6. Post Use Crystaleen Product Care

 

As mentioned above, puncturing the seal exposes the product to air which immediately starts the its shelf life (pot life) of 6 to 8 months.  If you do not use all of your Crystaleen, put the hard caps back on, tighten firmly and store in a cool, dry location. To make it last longer, store Stage 1 in a refrigerator. Crystaleen can be layered for multiple coats on a single vehicle or used to do a single coat on multiple vehicles.

7. Enhance Crystaleen With F11PRO

 

Even though Crystaleen® is a true 7H hard coat ceramic that will last 5 years, you still need to wash, clean, and maintain it and your vehicle. That's just common sense, but you can actually ENHANCE the performance and protection of your Crystaleen® by applying TopCoat® F11Pro® over it.

Topcoating your Crystaleen coated surface with F11Pro will…

• Enhance its depth of image
• Improve optical clarity
• Provide further corrosion protection
• Provide Anti-Stat properties that repel dust, dirt, & debris
• Protect against sun damage & UV Rays
• Increase hydrophobicity and water shedding
• Create a hyper slick surface that dirt, bugs, and debris won’t stick to.
• Coat, enhance, & protect all the other surfaces & materials Crystaleen® can’t, including the inside

F11Pro® will also Amino-Functionally bond to Crystaleen® coated surfaces and in doing so will renew, revitalize and protect your ceramic coated surfaces.

Using Crystaleen® and F11Pro® together gives you the best protection & performance money can buy!

• Ensure your treated vehicle remains as new as the day you bought
• Significantly increase your vehicle’s resale value
• Get years of easy maintenance with ridiculously low maintenance costs
• Save time, effort, and money with an average cleaning cost of only $25 a year!

(Learn More About F11Pro Here.)