In recent years, graphene vs ceramic coating have dominated detail scenes as the highest level of protection. Not long ago, ceramic strengthening paints, waxes, sealants and spray paints were premium accessories for dealers and detailers. These days, they are so common that they can be found in almost every home improvement workshop. There are hundreds of products from almost every major car care brand on the market. A lot of the jobs advertised, other jobs can throw you off and end up collecting dust on the shelf. Since 2018, GloveBox has been helping clarify what works and what doesn't, and we include several SiO2 products in our monthly box (most recently Ethos Ceramic Wax PRO in our deluxe box in August 2020). The compound silicon dioxide (SiO2) contained in the ceramic coating provides better protection than traditional waxes and sealants. It does this through nanotechnology, enabling products to bond with your paint, wheels, glass and trim at the molecular level. This fills in the microscopic pits and grooves in the paint, making the hydrophobic surface so smooth that it actually feels "slippery." Are ceramic and graphene coatings expensive?The price of ceramic coatings is common. True professional ceramic products will produce the best results, but can cost over $100 a bottle and are usually only sold to certified professionals. DIY versions of Adam's Polishes and CarPro start at about $60. There are also several spray ceramic coatings on the market, such as Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic Spray Coating, Lithium Ceramic Slam, Adam's Ceramic Spray Coating, etc., which are cheaper and suitable for almost everyone. How long will the ceramic coating last? Ceramic coatings are very durable and can last from months to years. Professional ceramic coatings are said to last up to 5-7 years. Considering that many of us grew up with pasty wax, which is really remarkable, after just 30 days it starts to lose its hydrophobicity and doesn't provide the same level of protection. While true ceramic coatings are very durable, they're not for everyone or every budget. Many spray-on ceramic paints and sealants like The Last Coat TLC2 (available in our glove box in January 2020) offer 6 months to a year of protection and can be used on your driveway for as little as 10 per coat Dollar. Spray ceramic coats don't last long, but they are easy to apply and can last up to 6 months before another coat is needed. This cost-effectiveness and modest durability make them a good choice for DIYers and weekend warriors on a budget. See more: What is a graphene coating? Graphene coatings are the latest technological advancement in the automotive detailing market. If you're a regular on social media, you've certainly seen a dramatic increase in ads promoting graphic products. This carbon-based nanomaterial is not entirely new, several British professors discovered it back in 2004 and were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 for their research. Fast forward to today, and graphene is gaining popularity in many detail areas, as major brands like Adam's Polishes and Ethos Car Care come out with graphene products that claim up to 10 years of protection. But the jury is still out; some professional groomers and YouTube personalities like Pan The Organizer aren't convinced, citing a lack of hard data showing its advantages over ceramic, and that other major auto grooming brands haven't adopted it either. What are the advantages and strengths of graphene coatings? Graphene has many benefits in automotive applications and relative strength compared to ceramic coatings. Here are a few:
Like ceramic coatings, graphene coatings vary in cost. Graphene products today appear to be competing at similar prices to comparable ceramic paints, with Adam's Polishes priced at just $79 for a 60ml bottle and Ethos Car Care for $99 for a 30ml bottle. We think this is quite affordable for a product that requires no additional training or certification and provides years of protection. A professional graphene coating is the best level of protection out there, with a Mohs hardness of 9H (fun fact: diamond is the only known mineral to get 10H). The upcoming spray graphene coatings won't hit 9H, but they're still a great option for DIY enthusiasts and are a big improvement over SiO2 ceramic spray coatings. The new graphene spray coating is estimated to last more than a year and cost around $32. This is comparable to many leading ceramic spray coatings, although it is (arguably) a better product for the reasons mentioned above. Like spray ceramic spray, a single bottle of graphene spray can handle multiple cars, giving you great value for money. For the professional detailers out there, Graphene offers a great upsell opportunity for customers looking for the "latest and greatest" coating, and it won't cost you any extra time to install. How do you prepare the graphene coating? As with ceramic coatings and almost every other finish on the market, it is critical to properly prepare the vehicle surface before installation. Here are the steps we recommend before installing the graphene coating:
Graphene vs ceramic coating the best? We're excited about graphene's rise in professional and DIY detailing and believe it could be the next big thing. But we also want to be patient and not get caught up in the hype until we do our own side-by-side tests and comparisons. As always, we'll take you on a journey and share our thoughts and recommendations as we delve deeper into the growing number of graphene products that are coming to market. Early signs look promising, and who knows, you might see the first graphene product in our monthly subscription box in the near future.
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