There are a lot of battles to win in keeping a car looking fresh, from dust, dirt, and grime, water, to other harsh elements found in the environment. It has always been the longing of car enthusiasts and owners alike to preserve their glossy finish while maintaining protection against harmful environmental factors. The game changer came in with the advent of ceramic coatings for cars, said to provide high durability and protection for a more extended period from contaminants.
While traditional ceramic coatings have widely found acceptance within the automotive sector, a new generation is now in play: graphene ceramic coatings. Through the introduction of graphene, hydrophobic protection is maximized, and car owners gain superior benefits with this coating. In this blog, we’ll explore how graphene ceramic coating are transforming car care, focusing on their hydrophobic properties and why they might be the best choice for your vehicle.
Before diving into the benefits of graphene-infused coatings, let’s first understand what traditional ceramic coatings are and why they’ve become a staple in car care.
Ceramic coatings for automobiles are liquid polymers applied to the exterior surfaces of the vehicle. Once applied, the coating chemically bonds with the paint to create a semi-permanent layer of protection. The layer acts as a protective shield that repels water, dirt, oils, and other contaminants, helping preserve the paint and reduce the frequency of cleaning.
The major advantage of the ceramic coating is that it increases the hydrophobic properties of your car. Hydrophobic simply means "water-repellent," and that is the primary aspect to keep your car clean. The water hitting the surface of the car coated with ceramic forms beads that roll off the surface taking contaminants with it. This, therefore, decreases the amount of water that remains on the surface, making it easier to wash and dry the car, as well as keeping fewer water spots.
Additionally, ceramic coatings offer protection against UV rays, oxidation, bird droppings, tree sap, and even minor scratches. They enhance the vehicle's overall appearance by boosting the paint’s gloss and providing a slick, shiny finish that lasts.
Graphene, often termed as a "wonder material," is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. It has incredibly thin structures yet possesses remarkable strength, conductivity, and thermal properties. Graphene is widely used in various industries, including electronics, construction, and recently, automotive coatings.
In the automotive industry, graphene's superior properties are utilized to enhance the performance of traditional ceramic coatings, and this gives rise to graphene ceramic coatings.
The most significant feature of a graphene ceramic coating is its superior hydrophobic performance. Here's how graphene improves the protective properties of traditional ceramic coatings:
Graphene's molecular structure allows for the creation of an ultra-slick surface that repels water more effectively than traditional ceramic coatings. The increased water-beading effect ensures that water rolls off the surface more easily, thus minimizing water spots and streaks. This enhanced water repellency also makes it harder for contaminants like bird droppings, tree sap, and road grime to adhere to the surface, thus reducing the need for frequent cleaning.
Graphene is quite strong and resilient, hence it can resist physical damage. In a ceramic coating, graphene bestows stronger resistance to swirl marks and minor abrasions. Although classical ceramic coatings protect against scratches, the incorporation of graphene in such coatings makes such features higher. Therefore, the paints and finishes are better protected in this type of coating.
Probably the greatest benefit of graphene-based ceramic coatings is that they are relatively longer-lasting. Graphene is very resistant to oxidation, UV, and chemical degradation and thus could last far longer than a coating of ceramics. Ceramic coatings are known for their longevity as well, but typically last anywhere from one to five years or longer, depending on the quality of the coating. Graphene coatings can offer protection for up to five years, which could be considered five or more years with sustainable reliability.
Graphene has an incredible thermal conductivity capability, which basically means it aids in the more efficient dissipation of heat. This ability is helpful in vehicles, particularly in hot areas. When bonded to a vehicle's surface using a ceramic coat, graphene moderates the vehicle's surface temperature, thereby helping to prevent damages due to the excessive heat accumulation that causes the paint to fade, crack, and peel off.
Graphene coatings are often associated with a deeper, more vibrant shine. The coating forms a smoother surface, which allows light to reflect more evenly and gives the car a wet-looking gloss. This glossy finish isn’t just about aesthetics; it also contributes to better water-repellency and easier cleaning, as the slick surface prevents dirt from bonding to the paint.
While both traditional ceramic coatings and graphene ceramic coatings provide excellent protection for your vehicle, graphene coatings have several key advantages:
Better Hydrophobicity: As mentioned, graphene coatings excel at water repellency. The enhanced hydrophobic effect ensures that water beads and slides off more easily, leading to a cleaner car with less effort.
Super scratch resistance: Graphene coatings are harder and more resistant to minor abrasions and scratches, keeping your car's paint intact and protected for longer.
Longer-lasting protection: Graphene ceramic coatings are generally longer-lasting than the traditional ceramic coating, with a protection life of up to five years or more, whereas the traditional coating would need reapplication every one to three years.
This helps make the paint more resistant to chemicals, such as acids, bird droppings, and other harsh pollutants in the environment that can ruin the paint layer over time.
Application and maintenance are easier as many graphene-based coatings are much easier to apply than traditional ceramic ones. Some are easier to get to the optimum state within less time and energy, while their superior durability results in less need for maintenance, thanks to superior resistance to contamination.
The process of applying a graphene ceramic coating is similar to that of traditional ceramic coatings, but some key steps must be followed to achieve the best results:
Preparation: Begin by thoroughly washing and decontaminating the vehicle's surface. It is necessary to remove any dirt, grease, wax, or previous coatings for a clean surface for the graphene coating to bond to. It is often recommended that the surface be clayed in order to remove embedded contaminants.
Polishing: If the paint of the vehicle has swirl marks or imperfections, then polishing may be required to get a defect free surface. This is an important step to ensure that the graphene coating adheres well and provides an even finish.
Application: The graphene ceramic coating is applied in small sections using an applicator pad. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper application and curing time. Most graphene coatings require a curing period before the car is exposed to water or rain.
Cure: Allow the coating to cure after application, following the instructions provided. Curing times differ, but in most cases, it takes at least 24 to 48 hours before the coating dries completely and fully bonds to the paint.
Graphene ceramic coatings are the future of car protection, offering advanced hydrophobic properties, added durability, and improved scratch resistance. For anyone seeking a long-term solution to maintain the car's paint to be beautiful and untarnished, an upgrade to graphene ceramic may be the wise step. Not only will you have a cleaner car with less effort, but also enjoy an added layer of protection against environmental damage, ultraviolet rays, and everyday wear and tear.
Whether you have a passion for cars or only want to see your vehicle keep its shine for a long time, the extra benefit of graphene coats makes them highly worth investing in. With graphene-based ceramic coatings for cars applied to your car's exterior, expect it to continue looking shiny, glossy, and protected from external elements for decades.
