What are 'ceramic' (or 'SiO2') coatings?

'Ceramic' coatings have become the gold standard in car paint protection, offering durability that traditional waxes simply can’t match. But not all ceramic coatings are the same. In fact, there are two main types, and they work in very different ways:

Type 1:

Polysilazane Based Coatings.

These are usually professionally applied and they use a special group of ingredients called polysilazanes - highly reactive materials that turn into a glass-like network when exposed to moisture.

What happens when you apply it?

• Polysilazanes are made up of chains with Si–NH–Si (silazane) bonds.

• When exposed to air and humidity, they react with water and oxygen to form Si–O–Si (siloxane) bonds.

• This reaction also gives off ammonia (NH₃) as a byproduct - you might notice a slight odour during application.

• The end result is a hard, microscopic shell made from silicone and oxygen atoms, similar to glass.

Cured Polysilazane

How is this useful?

• These Si–O–Si bonds are extremely stable - they resist UV, heat, cleaning chemicals and can even protect against mild abrasions.

• Therefore the resulting coating typically lasts up to around 5 years, depending on the specific formula and subsequent maintenance.

• The coating provides fantastic water beading and is extremely hydrophobic.

• Makes future washing and drying faster and easier.

So what are the disadvantages?

• Needs very clean, dry paint to bond properly - prep is essential.

• Creates a rough feel to paint surface.

• Curing typically takes several hours or longer and may even require heat.

• The polysilazane itself is extremely sensitive to moisture which limits the types of products available. Polysilazane products must be solvent based and completely dry of water.

• The products are single use - once opened the product reacts with moisture in the air and the curing process begins even inside the bottle.

• Hard to apply evenly. They are usually applied by professionals and are generally not suitable for DIY or untrained users.

Type 2:

Siloxane Based Coatings

(Amino-Alkoxy Siloxanes)

These are the more common of the two coating types and often found in shampoos, snowfoams, polishes, sealants and spray on products. They’re designed for easy DIY use, and they use modified silicone resins (called aminosiloxanes) to provide impressive protection with minimal effort.

What happens when you apply it?

• The main ingredients are aminoalkoxy siloxanes — these are silicone molecules with reactive –OCH₃ (methoxy) groups and amino groups (–NH₂).

• When applied to the paint and exposed to air humidity, the methoxy groups react with water to form Si–OH (silanol) groups

• The amino groups chemically anchor the molecules to the surface and help catalyze this reaction, making it happen faster and more completely - even at room temperature.

• The result is a thin, flexible protective layer of crosslinked silicone (Si–O–Si bonds), bonded to your paint.

What does that mean in practice?

Amino-Alkoxy Siloxanes: Quick And Easy High Gloss Hydrophobic Finish

• The result is a coherent film, like a resin, that anchors itself to the surface and repels water.

• It creates a durable barrier which makes cleaning much easier and resists weathering and cleaning chemicals, typically lasting 4-12 months depending on the specific product, the degree of paint prep and subsequent weather exposure.

• They give off much less ammonia odour in use.

• They typically provide a high gloss and a slick finish similar to a more traditional wax.

• These coatings are usually designed to self-level and have longer, more forgiving working times meaning they’re easy to apply evenly without streaks.

• They are less sensitive to water - they can be emulsified and formulated in to water based sprays, foams and shampoos.

• The resulting coating compliments any existing coating on the vehicle,

  including polysilazane - great for maintaining polysilazane coatings.

• Ideal for home users or for regular use through the year.

What are graphene coatings?

So what is the difference between 'ceramic' and 'graphene' coatings? Graphene is a man made material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms with many useful properties. It is incredibly strong and slightly hydrophobic. Therefore it is often added to sealant formulas which are then sold as graphene coatings. These are usually one of the two coating types we've already covered but with additional small graphene particles suspended in solution. In our findings however, in practice these graphene particles do little to nothing, as they are mostly removed during buffing and those that remain trapped in the cured coating are unable to coat the surface in any meaningful way. In our opinion therefore, graphene is typically used for marketing purposes only as many end users believe graphene coatings are a step up from the ceramic coatings we've already covered.