Ceramic Coating
A ceramic coating is a polymer that bonds with a vehicle’s paint, producing a highly durable protective layer with a mirror-like shine. While it is an investment cost-wise, it’s benefits cannot be overstated; and include:
- A glass-like finish with a hydrophobic effect that repels water, bugs, and soil.
- Resistance to salt, acids, and other corrosive contaminants.
- Protection from UV damage, colour fading, and paint blistering.
- Protection from extreme weather, including hail.
- High resistance to scratching and reduces the appearance of existing scratches or swirls.
- Much easier cleaning.
- Increased long-term value of your vehicle.
There’s more detailed information below, but feel free to just give us a call at 604-621-3794 to discuss ceramic coating for your auto, aircraft, or marine vessel.
What is ceramic coating?
Without getting overly scientific, glass is made from silicon dioxide. Ceramic coating’s main compound is a silicon polymer. A polymer has very large molecules, which makes it tougher, more elastic, and results in semicrystalline structures rather than forming crystals. All of that to say, it’s like glass but far less fragile.
That liquid resin doesn’t adhere well to anything, so ceramic coatings contain a compound called silane. With the addition of the silane, when the coating is applied to the painted surface of a vehicle, it causes a chemical reaction to occur with the clear coat. The ceramic coating actually bonds to the clear coat, meaning that it doesn’t just sit on top like being painted on, but rather forms a layer that meshes the silicon and the clear coat.
What kind of ceramic coating does Fast Detailing use?
We use the Sapphire V1 Nano Ceramic developed by Flight Shield for the aviation industry. Sapphire V1 produces a “9H” hardness. This is a reference to pencil lead that is often used as a measure of scratch resistance. The hardest pencil lead is 9H, the kind that is super hard and barely writes because of that. This type of finish is what you want in a ceramic coating that is intended to last for many years, and can be applied to air craft, boats, and automobiles.
What are the benefits of the Sapphire ceramic coating?
In terms of how it looks, you can’t beat the glossy shine. The added benefits are all of things that the ceramic coating does to keep it shining!
First, it protects the colour from fading and protects from UV damage, even with extreme temperatures and changes in temperatures. (Remember it was designed for air planes!)
It prevents staining from exhaust, which is a problem mainly for air craft, but can also be an issue with city driving.
The glass like coating makes it much more difficult for debris and contaminants to adhere to the surface. So bugs, bird droppings, and grime in the air, don’t grip to the finish. They may stick temporarily, but are easily removed. (See more below.)
The coating is hydrophobic, which means that it sheds water. Just like a rain jacket, water collects as droplets and then are naturally pulled down by gravity. With the slipperiness of the coating, there is little resistance in this process. There’s also an added benefit to this: As the droplets slid down the surface, they collect microscopic debris like dust, along with them.
That hardness factor we mentioned earlier, means that the coating is resistant to scratches and abrasion.
What kind of maintenance does a ceramic coating need?
A ceramic coating does need to be cleaned, but it’s a pretty easy task, and will depend on the type of vehicle and where it’s used. A plane, for example, should be examined after every flight for safety reasons, so it’s easy to have a spray bottle and proper cloth in hand, to wipe away any visible debris or polish up the windscreen. If you’ve driven your car through mud, you’ll want to hose it down and dry it off right away, but otherwise, a dry wash with an appropriate cleaner will take care of noticeable debris, and a full hand wash every three to four weeks, will keep the finish in great shape. (Be sure to only use soaps and clothes designed for ceramic coatings.)
With boats, it depends on whether it’s coming out of the water after every use. If so, a quick wipe down is great, making sure you remove any of those nasty hitchhikers! Mid-season and before storage, a full wash is recommended.
In some cases, you may want to use a spray cleaner that adds a bit of silicone, and there will come a time that you’ll need a re-finish. Best to talk to use more about how and where your vehicle is used to get an appropriate recommendation.
