Ceramic Coatings

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In general, ceramic coatings are made up of several inorganic chemical components that, when combined, start out in a liquid form.  Once the liquid is applied to the paint surface, the molecules rearrange themselves as a result of being exposed to air, and the liquid converts or transforms into a solid.  As the ceramic hardens, what is created is a highly organized repeating three-dimensional pattern of molecules that are held together with super-strong chemical bonds.  

The result is a transparent crystalline or glass-like super-thin film or “shell” that is super-strong and super-hard.

The fully-cured ceramic coating has two main properties:  

1. It is impermeable to chemicals and other environmental contaminants, thus sealing the paint from the environment.
2. It is super-hard, actually requiring sandpaper to remove.  It takes a very long time for a properly applied ceramic coating to wear off.

Contrast this to traditional automotive wax or polymer paint sealant, which can act as a sacrificial layer against the elements but evaporate quickly and are mostly washed off the car after a few washes, especially in the case of automatic car washes that use harsh chemicals.

Carology is professionally certified to install the P&S Inspiration Coating Line

About the Product

P&S did not rush to get into the ceramic coating market.  Co-owners Bob and Dave Phillips watched the ceramic market carefully during the late 2000s, studying emerging technologies, marketing trends, and evaluating true durability of popular ceramic coatings.  Dave, the chemist of the operation, spent countless hours working with the ingredients typically found in a ceramic coating formulation.  His goal was to create a coating that is relatively easy-to-use, yet durable formula that would be approachable to a wide variety of detailing technicians and operations.  It was also important for the company to be able to offer a product with reasonable durability claims that the company and product users can stand behind with confidence.

For the P&S Inspiration line of ceramic coatings, Dave chose polysilazane (silicone dioxide or SiO2) technology as the chemical foundation because of its proven track record, excellent protective properties, and relative ease of chemical manipulation.

P&S refuses to make outlandish durability claims, yet many are finding that the coatings last longer than their intended duration, especially when maintained properly with at least a yearly routine.

What a ceramic coating WILL DO.  It will be virtually impervious to insect acid, road salt, acid rain, and car wash chemicals.  It will help prevent micro-scratches and paint oxidation.  It will enhance gloss and depth appearance in the paint surface.  It will have hydrophobic properties, in that it repels water and will not mix with water.

A coated vehicle will be easier to clean because the coated surface is so smooth that contaminants simply have nothing to stick to.  Thus, there is less grime build-up between washes, and what’s left is just barely holding onto a super-slippery surface, thus it washes off with minimal chemicals and minimal agitation.  Less agitation means less washing scratches!

Remember that all of these claims assume that the coating has been properly installed and is properly maintained!

What a ceramic coating WILL NOT DO.  It is NOT scratch-proof.  It will NOT make an oxidized, heavily contaminated, or heavily scratched paint surface look good.  It will NOT eliminate vehicle paint care forever.  It will NOT last forever.  It will NOT completely prevent accumulation of environmental contamination, but there will be far less and what does stick is much easier to remove.

Also, P&S coatings do NOT claim to be self-healing.  Honestly, for a coating to be “self-healing”, it must be pliable, which means it’s not hard . . . which means it can’t offer the level of protection we’ve been talking about.