There are many good automotive paint protection and paint coating products on the market. Typically, the industry recognizes 3 different types of paint protection;
- Carnauba Wax
- Synthetic Wax/Polymer Sealant
- Paint Coatings/Nano-Coatings
First There Was Carnauba Wax
For many years people used a Carnauba Wax product to protect their vehicles. Waxes look good and offer some protection from the elements. Where waxes fall short is durability and length of protection. Typically, Carnauba Wax will last up to 2 – 3 months. This, however, depends on several factors. Is it garage kept? Do you use car washes? If you wash at home, what soap/detergent are you using (strong cleaners and degreasers – like dish soap – will remove wax)?
Waxes can also be removed by acids, such as those found in bug splatter and bird droppings. In particular, bird droppings can dissolve wax on contact! Another factor is temperature. Carnauba Wax will break down around 150 degrees. The surface of your vehicle in hot weather, especially in direct sunlight, can reach temperatures higher than 150. Waxes are also soft, by their nature. This means they offer very little in the way of scratch resistance. Last, but not least, waxes offer some water repelling and beading but can have a somewhat tacky texture to them. This means there is a greater likelihood of dirt and other particles sticking to the surface of your car.
Carnauba Waxes are good products and have been trusted for a long time to provide protection for automotive paint. But technology never stands still.
Then Came Synthetic Sealants
Wanting a greater length of protection, and better overall durability, companies brought out synthetic polymer based sealants to protect paint. Polymer sealants can last up to 5 or 6 months if cared for properly. They are a little harder and have better heat tolerance. Overall, sealants are a better choice than wax for protecting your paint.
The Future is Now With Ceramic Paint Coatings
The most recent advancement in paint and surface protection is a category of products called by several names: Paint Coatings, Ceramic Coatings, or Nano-coatings. These products can offer paint protection that will last anywhere from 2 years all the way to PERMANENT protection.
Paint Coatings are much harder than waxes or polymer sealants (even harder than your clear coat). They offer substantially more scratch resistance, chemical resistance (will not break down with detergents) and heat tolerance (some can withstand temperatures above 1400 degrees or higher). Coatings are also mush more hydrophobic, meaning they will repel water at a significantly faster rate. They are very slick, therefore your vehicle stays clean longer, and cleans easier when needed.
At Details Matter, we offer waxes, sealants, and paint coatings. However, we always stress to our customers that a paint coating is a much better product that will last far longer than any wax or sealant. In the long run, it will save you money to invest in a paint coating. If you want to keep your paint in good condition, you would need to apply a wax or sealant every few months. A onetime application of a professional paint coating will give your paint PERMANENT protection. You would never have to wax your car again. All you would need to do is properly wash and maintain your car.
We carry two professional brands of paint coatings, CERAMIC PRO and OPTI-COAT. Both are incredible products.
CERAMIC PRO
Ceramic Pro and its manufacturer Nanoshine Ltd are changing the dynamics of the coating industry. The company has for years worked on industrial multifunctional protective coatings for all surfaces and strives to continuously improve their products. In 2010 Nanoshine Ltd introduced Ceramic Pro – a series of products for the automotive, air, and marine markets suited for surfaces such as paint, glass, alloy, fabric, leather, plastic, and rubber.
What makes Ceramic Pro different is the cutting edge technology based on ceramic molecular compounds (nanoceramics). The formula is world patented and it has taken ten years of research and testing to bring the product to where it is today. All formulas include SiO2.
All Ceramic Pro products have been tested by SGS, the world‘s leading inspection, verification and certification entity. Ceramic Pro achieved the highest possible result in each test; no other automobile paint protection product to date has been officially tested. All products within the Ceramic Pro range have been tested and certified as non-toxic.
OPTI-COAT PRO
Opti-Coat Pro is a hard wearing, ceramic clear coat for superior resistance to scratching (9H) and protection from chemical etching due to environmental impacts. The Opti-Coat Pro pre-polymer cross-links and forms a continuous protective film on the painted surface it is applied to, similar to a single component isocyanate that forms a clear coat finish.
Opti-Coat Pro has better chemical resistance, scratch & mar resistance, and release properties than any automotive paint coating in use. It provides permanent protection for all modern factory paints and can also be used to protect metal and hard plastic surfaces.
Consider Your Options
Contact Details Matter today to learn more about your paint coating options and decide which is best for your car. Whether you choose Ceramic Pro or Opti-Coat Pro, you will have the ultimate in paint protection to keep your vehicle looking new for as long as you own it.