Ceramic Coatings, also called Glass Coatings or Quartz Coatings, are the most capable form of protection from UV and chemical damages that can be applied to a vehicle. The bonding molecule that provides the protection is SiO2, or Silica Dioxide. A solvent carrier is used to apply the SiO2 to the paint and other surfaces. The solvent evaporates out and leaves the SiO2 behind to cure and bond to the surface. The Coating is then cured with an Infrared Curing Lamp to dry the coating and speed up the curing process.

The chemical makeup of ceramic coatings does three very important things differently than that of a wax or sealant. First, it is capable of bonding to the surface underneath for  a time frame of years, where we see only a few months out of most waxes or sealants. Secondly, the chemical makeup of the Ceramic Coating is able to withstand penetration of UV and harmful environmental contaminants to keep your paint’s finish from degrading over time due to exposure. Thirdly, the coating produces a highly repellent surface, where dirt and other contaminants are rejected, rather than absorbed into the surface. This keeps the surfaces cleaner longer and makes regular wash maintenance very easy and safe.

Unfortunately there is a hearty amount of irresponsible marketing in the Ceramic Coating world. Coatings are not thick enough, nor hard enough to withstand scratches from, say a dirty wash mitt, a key, or a rock chip. They do produce a slightly harder surface than the paint itself, but not enough to withstand this type of damage. The 9h Hardness measure that is used describes the coating’s “vertical hardness,” or its ability to withstand penetration from UV and chemical damage and keep it from reaching the paints finish. That is what we are asking coatings to do. We coat cars so that they still look good years down the road, and do not suffer from the slow roll of UV and environmental contamination that degrades the finish, much the way we wear sunscreen, moisturizers, and eye cream on our own skin. Where a Coating can play in to scratch resistance is by producing and extremely repellent and slick surface, so that the surface lets go of loose dirt that you would otherwise move across the paint when washing and minimize the friction between the dirt, your wash mitt, and the paint.