History of Paint Protection Technology

Paint protection is what we call everything from wax to clear bras. Here’s a timeline for paint protection that is useful in knowing more about ceramic coating.

• 1800 – wax, developed from animal fat, was developed in Germany for horse carriages. This was the first paint protection technology.
• 1891 – Frank Meguiar, Jr. develops wax for automobiles. The “Meguiar’s” brand is a top brand in
  automotive care.
• 1901 – George Simons develops carnauba wax. Simonize is born.
• 1925 – 3M develops masking tape. This allows automobile manufacturers and automotive paint companies to have two tones.
• 1944 – Plastone invents the first bottled car wash that later became known as “Turtle Wax.• 1970 – Dupont introduces the first polymer sealant, whilst in Japan and Europe, the first clear coat was brought to market.
• 1980 – Detailing clay bar was developed in Japan.
• 1990’s – Microfiber towels arrive on the detailing scene.
• 2000 – PPG Industries invents Ceramiclear to eliminate clear coat degradation from UV rays, acid rain and salt.
• 2007 – Clearpaint sealant, a nanotechnology polymer coating, is invented. Gtechniq invents C1 Crystal Lacquer.
• 2010 – Nano Shine, Ltd. released the Ceramic Pro range in 2010 for automotive, marine and airplane industry.
• 2013 – Ceramic Pro introduces 9h ceramic coating.
• 2017 – Gtechniq introduces 10h ceramic technology

As you see, ceramic coating nanotechnology is a recent advancement in the auto detailing industry, and, as a result, there is reliable and unreliable information about it. So, let’s explore what it is, what it does and does not do, and what is the best ceramic coating product for you.

What is Ceramic Coating Nanotechnology?

Let’s keep this non-technical, although that may not be 100% possible. Keep reading to understand why.

Ceramic Coating: Definition

Bendable glass is the best way to “describe” ceramic coating, but that doesn’t tell you what it is. So imagine making a smoothie: you put a lot of ingredients into a blender to suit your taste, and then blend it up and out comes a beverage you like. That’s a good metaphor for ceramic coating. But in this case,
it’s more like: start with this stuff, then do that to it for a while, then add this other stuff to that stuff and do something else to that, then add that other stuff over there to this stuff and do something else to all of this for a while, and…well, I’m sure you get the picture.

RESINS

Additives help the resin achieve the shortcomings above. One additive brings strength and durability by forming a covalent bond3 with the clear coat. Others increase its hardness, its gloss, its UV capability and its gloss and shine

What a Ceramic Coating Does NOT Do

Protect against rock chips and other road hazards that can chip your paint. That’s what paint protection film (PPF) does. Having a coating does NOT mean you don’t have to wash your vehicle. You should wash it every two weeks at a minimum, but not at a car wash, which has harmful chemicals that affect the coating. Use the “no-rinse” method as shown by your installer.

Ceramic Coatings for Autos

One note about prep work: What is meant by “Same” is that a ceramic coating should NEVER be applied until the vehicle is:

1. Thoroughly washed
2. Decontaminated
3. Clay barred
4. Wiped down
5. Taped to protect from 6 & 7
6. Machine paint correction (if necessary)
7. Machine polished (always necessary)
8. Wiped down with a paint prep solution
9. Coating applied
10. Coating leveled and buffed AFTER it flashes
11. Inspect for high spots and correct

If you are unwilling or unable to do the above tasks, then you should have a professional ceramic coating installer do the job for you.

Why Is It So Expensive?

The cost to bring a commercial ceramic coating to market is HUGE! There’s R&D, manufacturing, marketing, sales and administrative costs incurred by the manufacturer. It requires millions of dollars before one bottle is sold!

A certified ceramic coating installer is paid roughly the equivalent of an automotive tech at a commercial garage, where hourly shop rates range from $100-200 an hour. The installer has years of detailing experience, paint correction and polishing expertise as well as many hours of manufacturer’s product and application training.

How often would you need to wax your car to get it to look like it does with a ceramic coating, over the lifecycle of the coating. Let’s say you have a 9-year coating installed on your favorite vehicle and it costs
$2,000. That’s a one-time investment into protecting your vehicle. Compare that with wax, which typically lasts 3-4 months, or until you go through the car wash again. If you pay a detailer to wax your car, you’re going to pay about $250 each time. Now if you do that 3 times a year for 9 years, you’ve spent $6,750. So, which is the better value?