Ceramic Car Coating  – Maximum Level of Protection

What is Ceramic Coating?

It’s a liquid polymer applied by hand to the exterior of a car. The solution chemically bonds with the vehicle’s factory paint, building a layer of protection. It’s not a sub for paint protection film, which offers a more comprehensive solution for car protection – it’s more a premium wax alternative.

This liquid polymer produces a permanent or semi-permanent bond with an automobile’s paint, meaning that it doesn’t break down or wash away and doesn’t need repeated application every 3-6 months.

Core Features

• Durability – It signifies how long you can expect from solution to protect the vehicle’s body and looking as new as the day it was used. Some top-line ceramic coatings have the durability that lasts as long as the machine’s lifetime. A fine-quality product will give you anywhere from two to five years of proper service.
• Easy to apply – Since not all car owners are DIY experts, one thing to look for in this product is easy application. Even if you have no experience with coatings or exceptional skills beyond knowing how to clean your vehicle, you should still be able to apply the coating with relative ease. The right product shouldn’t need extra tools or equipment to use it, either.
• Hardness – The coating industry defines paint hardness as the ability to resist damage and scratching. Hence, the harder the coating, the better it’s for protecting the vehicle and its exterior. A product with ‘9H’ in the name means it features diamond-grade hardness.

Types

There’re three the main car ceramic coating types – polymer, quartz, and hybrid.

• Polymer – Polymer or epoxy is a widely used type of ceramic paint coating that bonds with the factory paint coating of the vehicle. That bond is permanent as the paint, and the polymer becomes one layer that’s tougher and more resistant to damage. It’s the reason why you can’t wash away a layer of auto ceramic coating – the only way to remove the epoxy coating is through polishing.
• Quartz – Quartz coatings are, by its formula, harder than other kinds. Quartz or silicon dioxide coating reaches high grades of hardness that help to protect the car against scratches and debris. It preserves a car’s fresh look and shiny appearance even after years of use and abuse.
• Hybrid – Hybrid coating is a blend of epoxy and quartz. This type, which claims to have the best of both players, is allegedly harder and produce a protective shell around the car. Still, there’s no proof that hybrid coating provides any extra protection than other sorts of the coating.

Benefits

The coating achieves excellent results by making your car more resilient and easier to clean. Here’re the main advantages.

Protection against elements

Unlike factory paint, this technique does a better job of protecting the exterior of the vehicle. The best auto coating product features hydrophobic properties and will make water and rain bead instead of a pool on the hood.

Acid rain and mud rain splashed on the vehicle slide off the smooth surface without leaving a stain. The same goes for bird droppings, ice, or snow, bird droppings, as they roll off the automobile without sticking to its surface.

Prevents rust, UV damage, and oxidization

For the most part, leaving your vehicle in the sun for too long causes the car’s paint to fade and even crack. The UV rays of the sun have a destructive effect on the vehicle’s surface. Many brands prevent this damage along with other forms of erosion like oxidization and rust.

Cost-efficient

Since car wax doesn’t last more than 3 months, you need to get the car rewaxed a lot more than you may want. On the other hand, the nano-ceramic coating is more durable, and a proper coating with good maintenance can last a few years before replacing it.

Improved care

With this approach, your vehicle gets a semi-permanent layer of armor that bonds with the paint on the molecular stage. That protective layer is harder than the soft wax and can withstand ultra-harsh treatment both from the elements and the terrain.

As a matter of fact, you’re not just protecting the vehicle paint, but also guarding the body of the car itself versus scratches and chemicals.

Shiny finish

Standard car wax has a warm appearance that becomes dull when the car is out most of the time. Compare that to the sharp glossy look of a ceramic top coat. It gives the vehicle a high-candy finish that doesn’t fade under the sun or over time.

Disadvantages

There’re a few downsides related to ceramic coating, including:

• Price– The market price varies depending on the quality chosen. But, once invested, the layer will last long, making it quite an efficient product to buy. Also, the price is still lower than the paint protection film;
• Applying takes time– You might have to invest around 3 days at the service that’s doing the ceramic coating. Anyhow, always remember to let car detailers handle such types of painting services. If you fail to do it properly, the ceramic layer may not look good. So, be extremely careful if you apply the product.

Best Ceramic Coating for Cars

Take a look at the 3 best ceramic car coating products on the market.

1. CarPro Cquartz 30 ml. Kit ($57.99)

CarPro CQuartz is an anti-static, weather-resistant ceramic paint protection that shines and guards your car look. It works on the molecular grade to transform the surface.

Once treated with this product, your car will repel water and contaminants, and it will bring a bright, reflective, hard-as-nails shine to your “baby.” One application can last for two years.

Its ceramic quartz paint protection produces an ultra-durable surface that minimizes paint maintenance for up to two years. A CQuartz-treated car remains cleaner longer, needs less frequent polishing, and requires no extra paint protection!

Kit includes a 30ml bottle of CQuartz, applicator block, 4″ microfiber suede applicators, and reflective hologram CQuartz stickers.

PROS

• Ultra-hard coating;
• Weather resistance;
• High-gloss look;
• Water/oil proof finish;
• Anti-calcium and self-cleaning effect;
• Detergent-resistant protection;

CONS

• Lack of suede applicators.

2. BLACKFIRE Pro Ceramic Coating ($64.99)

BLACKFIRE Pro Ceramic Coating erases the gap between entry-level commercial products and professional-only industrial ones, enabling everyone to accomplish a mirror-like shine.

It’s made using a solvent and fluorine-free formula to maximize its user-safety and make sure that it can be applied anywhere. The thermoplastic component contained in its formula creates a flexible, cross-linked solution that gives 9H+ hardness – graded to last up to 2 years when properly maintained.

The incredible structural integrity of this coating makes this matrix one of the most corrosion and abrasion resistant products on the market.

PROS

• 9H+ hardness level that provides up to two years of protection;
• Especially resistant to corrosion and abrasion;
• It can be applied everywhere;
• Super-high gloss;
• Maximum clarity;
• Quick flash time.

CONS

• Much more difficult to apply than standard car wax.

3. Color N Drive Ceramic Coating Kit ($59.99)

Color N Drive 9H ceramic coating is a DIY kit that gives protection of up to 5 years staying intact for up to about 150 car washes. It’s easy to apply, just follow the instructions from the manual.

It’s a nano-bionic kit with the capacity of giving your vehicle optimum protection against dirt, mud, rain, snow, iron powder, stone chips and so on. With this type of protection, the car paint will last longer than expected.

The package includes 50 ml ceramic, 150 ml pre-treatment, 2 coated sponge, 1 x spreading microfiber, 1 x polishing microfiber, and gloves.

PROS

• You don’t need to wax your vehicle after applying;
• It protects the surface against scratches;
• You can use it on two cars;
• Stay intact for up to 100-150 washes;
• Easy to apply;
• 3D deep gloss.

CONS

• Doesn’t guard against stone chips.

Bottom Line – Is Ceramic Coating Worth It?

The product has many merits, and if it’s in your budget and you want to protect your car, then it’s worth it.

It makes your vehicle easier to clean, stays glossy longer and protects against minor damaging from something like a microfiber cloth. The car still needs to be maintained, and it’s a good idea to apply a sealant specially made for a coating once or twice a year to keep it topped up and well protected.

In case you feel confident enough to apply it yourself, go for it! If you want the best results, leave it to a car detailer.