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To help you by providing this guide on ceramic coating and its application, we should briefly explain what car ceramic coating is. Unlike traditional coatings, usually concocted from polymer resins, a ceramic one Is based on silicon dioxide or silica (SiO2). Silica, traditionally derived from quartz crystals and sand, creates an invisible “nanotechnology coating,” which becomes relatively resilient when combined with other ingredients, such as titanium dioxide and water.
Once cured, this viscous liquid becomes a crystal-clear shell, i.e., a product commonly referred to as a nano-ceramic coating or ceramic coating offered by Autotechniqz Ceramic Coating. Now that we have a good idea of the science behind this great product, we can look closer at how it can help your car.
Why is it used on cars?
The primary reason is its excellent resistance to heat, abrasion, chemicals, and impact. Many car components, from the Renault wheel hubs to a car’s engine bay, feature this protective layer. Also, it could be applied to a car’s paint because of its hydrophobic properties. This transparent layer resists UV rays, repels road grime, and prevents minor scratches and extreme heat from entering your car’s paintwork.
What options are there?
Like with most other products, when ceramic coatings first appeared, they were rather pricy. However, the situation has changed, and they are now quickly reaching a point where they are financially feasible on a DIY level. Still, you must know that not all car ceramic coating products suit every car. You have professionally applied products and DIY consumer kits. Needless to say, they vary in terms of price and amount of prep time involved.
What do you need to know?
Don’t think that once you’ve applied a great nano ceramic coating, you don’t need to look after it properly. You still need to clean it regularly, but you’ll soon realize that cleaning should be done less frequently and takes much less time. Next, you must be aware that, regardless of how great a ceramic coating might look, it still loses its protective properties over time. Once the molecular structure starts deteriorating, the coating must be stripped entirely before applying a new layer. Needless to say, the better you look after your car, the longer the coating will last.
You should also be aware that if you decide to apply a coating yourself, you must invest a lot of time in preparation. Before using a layer, You must attend to surface blemishes, apparent coat oxidation, and paint correction. Finally, you shouldn’t expect nano ceramic car coatings to provide a shiny and glossy finish that would hide things like faded paint, swirl marks, or scratches. That’s why you must take care of all imperfections before applying a layer of this protective coating.
How to maintain a ceramic coating?
If you want your coating to look sharp, hand wash the entire vehicle with water and a pH-neutral shampoo. The shampoo you use should not contain any waxes or sealants. Also, you must apply a high-quality SiO2 ceramic boost spray every couple of months. This layer will rest on top of the existing ceramic coating and can be layered, so you don’t need to remove one layer before applying another. This will extend the life of your nano-coating and add additional depth and shine to the paint underneath.
Conclusion
If you can afford to protect your car, it’s highly recommended you consider applying a ceramic coating. This job is best left to professionals since you might not give appropriate attention to details that can ruin your attempt to protect your car. On the other hand, a professional is experienced and knows what needs to be done, but you need to be ready to pay more.
There is also a DIY option, which includes much of your time and effort, but you could save some serious money. Luckily, a wide range of products is available now, and you can find many helpful tutorials online. You need to weigh the pros and cons of both options and opt for the one with a better chance of success.