Ceramic Coating Technology

A note on Modern Paint Systems

Paint has evolved a lot over the years. A painted surface consists of 3 primary layers: primer, color coat, and the protective clear coat. The clear coat gives your paint UV, oxidation, & contaminant resistance. A damaged clear coat can lead to exposed raw materials, leaving them vulnerable to rust and corrosion.

On cars, overall paint thickness can range from 2 to 7+ mils. To put that into perspective, the edge of a Post-It Note measures just three mils…this means that a Post-It Note may be thicker than the whole paint system of a car. Modern car paint seems to have turned towards the thinner side, with some new vehicles coming off the lot with only a little over two mils of paint. A primary concern is how thin a clear coat can be if we look at two mils total for all paint layers.

So how does this tie into ceramic coatings, you say? It’s connected in two ways:

1) Adding protection (like a ceramic coating) to your paint is increasingly essential. Ceramic coatings offer the same type of protection your clear coat does, minus the thickness….(side note: Paint Protection Film provides the more robust protection needed to combat rock chips and deeper scratches. A ceramic coating alone cannot match this type of protection)

2) Paint correction (machine buffing & polishing), often done before coating application, must be approached strategically.

Any machine work on paint will remove some clear coat. While it’s not usually an amount to be concerned about (the benefits are worth it!), it can become a concern when working with a fragile paint system. Thus, paint depth should be measured before any correction is done to properly assess how much correction can be done to a car’s panels.

Whether you opt for paint correction or coating another type of surface, such as glass, a ceramic coating will provide a thin layer of protection, shielding from the sun’s UV rays, fading, oxidation, bug etching, staining, light scratching, and other contaminants.

Ceramic coatings and nanotechnology

A ceramic coating creates a slick & hydrophobic barrier on the surface. Modern ceramic coatings incorporate nanotechnology into their formulas. Tiny nanoceramic particles fill in minor surface imperfections, smoothing out the surface and leaving a layer of protection almost as strong as quartz (scoring above the 9H scale). With these tiny imperfections filled in, grime, oils, traffic films, and other contaminants have more difficulty sticking to a surface. This shields the surface and vastly improves cleaning.

What can be coated with ceramic?

A ceramic coating can be layered on top of any existing paint job, so it doesn't matter how old or faded your car is. You'll get the same high-quality protection without having to repaint your vehicle.

It can also go on glass and other smooth surfaces. Glass benefits significantly from the hydrophobic properties of keeping water away and improved cleaning.

How long does a ceramic coating last?

The market is saturated with coatings advertised to last anywhere from 3 months to a “lifetime.” All the many debates aside, one thing stands true amongst all ceramic coatings - they need good maintenance to meet and exceed their expected lifespans. It’s an excellent guideline to treat lifespans as a comparison factor between coatings unless the coating stands true to its longevity claims in the real world.

The benefits of a ceramic coating

Improved cleaning

Ceramic coatings are highly hydrophobic. This means fewer contaminants on your surface. On glass, expect water droplets to slide off, resulting in better visibility. Bugs, animal mess, oils, and other contaminants will be much easier to wipe off from a coated surface. A quality coating will make cleaning your car much easier and more pleasant to wash.

High gloss

Amplify the shine and glossiness of your surface. With adequate paint prep, your car can look shinier than off the showroom floor.

Combats fading, oxidation & staining

Nano ceramic coatings take the brunt of UV ray exposure - giving your paint protection from fading & oxidation. You can also expect protection from chemical and organic staining.

Applying a nano-ceramic coating

Modern nanoceramic coatings have become easier to work with and apply. A decade ago, one could not say the same thing with complex, unforgiving coatings that required multiple layers and precise installation. As with anything, technology has gotten better with time. The latest nanoceramic coatings offer excellent protection and ease of use with only a single layer.
This has made ceramic coatings more and more accessible as labor costs are minimized - win, win!

Prep

Prep is the most crucial step in the application process. A well-prepped surface will give the coating better adhesion and longevity. Prep may also include machine polishing to improve the surface further by removing scratches, swirl marks, water spots, and other imperfections on your surface.

To start the process, a thorough cleansing of the surface is vital. The surface must be stripped of oils, traffic films, road grime, sealants, iron, and other contaminants. This is done via specialized soaps and mechanical methods such as clay mitts or bars. A professional cleanse and decontamination will be non-marring and chemically safe for your surface. Once the surface is clean and completely dry, a coating can be directly applied after a panel prep wipe.

Polish

The next step is often optional: a paint correction (or polish if on glass). While a ceramic coating will amplify imperfections, it’s ultimately up to the owner’s preference how much this matters to them - someone might not see any issues with their paint. In contrast, the same paint can be an eyesore to another person. Other factors include the coating’s life expectancy and the paint thickness. A long-lasting 3+ year coating will work and look best with a smoother polished surface, while a 1-2 year can typically be applied without any paint corrections. Thin paint may also need to forgo corrections and go straight to a coating.

Once a paint correction is finished, a final panel prep wipe ensures all polish is removed from the surface. An excellent panel wipe formula will include modern lubrication agents to combat marring that can happen with just the towel moving across the surface.

Ceramic application

Finally, we are ready for some nano ceramic action. The application process is simple: The nano ceramic is applied via a dedicated applicator pad, one section at a time.

After a short while, the coating will flash (the solvents that carry the coating across your car’s surface start evaporating). A visual sign will give this away, and once this happens, the coating can be leveled with a lint-free microfiber, ensuring the coating is evenly distributed. Lastly, a final wipe down with a separate soft microfiber will finish the section, and the process can repeat.

With the coating now applied to all your surfaces, it’s recommended to cure for 24 hours before exposing the coated surfaces to the elements.

Ceramic Coating Maintenance

As mentioned earlier, maintenance significantly affects a coating’s efficacy and lifespan. This applies to all ceramic coatings. As an often overlooked component, it’s common for a coating to lose its hydrophobic properties and overall effectiveness when the coated surface is left dirty for long periods of time. However, two things are true: ceramic coatings are formulated to be chemical and abrasive-resistant. We believe every car should have a coating, especially with new vehicles' thinner and thinner paint systems. Whether it’s professionally maintained or hardly washed, a quality coating should withstand the abuse it’s marketed to protect against.

Click here to learn more about ceramic coating maintenance.

final thoughts

A ceramic coating is perfect for protecting your surfaces from the elements, making them easier to keep clean and increasing shine. It’s a worthy investment if you value a clean and shiny ride, your car’s paint condition, or the time you’ll spend NOT cleaning. Whether you have a trusty old commuter or a collection car, contact your local ceramic coating installer to get started and experience the benefits.