Paints and coatings: ZIRCONIUM OCTOATE IS A MOST USEFUL & EFFICIENT AUXILIARY DRIER. IT CAN BE USED INSTEAD OF LEAD DRIERS. ZIRCONIUM LIKE LEAD SERVES AS A THROUGH DRIER & IS GENERALLY USED IN COMBINATION WITH COBALT, MANGANESE & CALCIUM. UNLIKE LEAD, ZIRCONIUM IS A POOR PIGMENT WETTING & DISPERSING AGENT. ZIRCONIUM IS AN ACTIVE CROSS-LINKING AGENT & AS SUCH IMPROVES HARDNESS OF STOVED FILMS AS WELL AS THEIR ADHESIONS. ZIRCONIUM IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE IN PHENOLIC RESIN BASED MEDIA IT IS RECOMMENDED AS A CATALYST FOR EPOXY ESTERS. USE OF LEAD DRIERS IN COMBINATION WITH ZIRCONIUM IS TO BE AVOIDED. IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED SUBSTITUTE FOR LEAD FREE NON-TOXIC PAINTS. IT IS EFFECTIVE IN BOTH AIR DRYING AND BAKE COATING SYSTEMS. IT IMPROVES GLOSS HARDNESS AND THOROUGH DRYING.