What Are Flop Crystals?

Have you ever passed by a vehicle that seemed to change color right before your eyes? If so, you've likely locked your eyes on what many refer to as "chameleon" or "mystic" paint jobs. These types of paint jobs derive their color-changing ability from a popular paint additive known as flop crystals. The product has several distinctive qualities that make it desirable for custom paint work.

Sparkle

Flop crystals provide a sparkle quality that gives a gem-like look to any metal. This quality is achieved by the combination of varying sizes of metalized chips present in the paint, which range widely in size. The smallest chip might be the size of one micron, while the largest can be up to 300 microns.

Depth

A custom paint job using flop crystals will allow you to achieve an almost unbelievable look of depth. This quality is achieved from the clever blend of varying sizes of pearls and metalized chips, which are blended together and added to clear paint.

Chameleon-like Color Change

Flop crystals are a clear paint additive that earned their name due to their ability to allow anything painted with them to "flop" colors as light hits it. This is also called "pearlescence." For example, a dark green can quickly change to teal and then again to lavender, deep purple or even a burnt orange, depending upon the color of the flop crystals used. Like depth, this quality is also achieved from the combination of metalized chips and pearls.

Application Technique

The paint is prepared by adding 6 oz. of flop crystals to a clear paint that has been readied to spray. The surface is prepped and then primed. The surface will be given two good coats, ensuring that the coverage is uniform. That is allowed to flash off prior to doing any tape-offs for graphics or applying the final clear coat. Finally, a clear polyurethane top coat is added.

Note: Flop crystals powder is considered an irritant and may become explosive in open air. For this reason, flop crystals should only be applied by professionals in a controlled environment.