If you're going to use a maintenance spray for a professional ceramic coating, or a high-quality DIY nano coating, always opt for the SiO2 Boost. If there are any detractors of using the best ceramic coats, it would be that they are expensive, more difficult to apply than a car wax, and if applied improperly difficult to remove. Amazon Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 77,000 ratings. To start, you'll wrap the applicator with one of the clothes and spot it with the ceramic coating, sometimes as little as several drops. All rights reserved. It is made with SiO2 to help form a hydrophobic coating and give your car a glossy shine. We only applied CQuartz to a small portion of the test vehicle, however. We then have our network of experts share their thoughts on the selected coatings. If you do not have experience with these types of products and chemicals, you risk a lot by attempting to DIY them. You spend a precious Saturday afternoon washing and waxing your car, only for it to get dirty the next time you roll out of the driveway. Once applied, CQuartz offers appearance and protection like few other at-home kits. TheTurtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coatingis affordable, offers exceptional performance, and is easy to apply. Rank #2: Mothers CMX Ceramic Spray Coating. It's time consuming (at best) to apply, but not terribly tricky and the manufacturer offers an on-line tutorial. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A ceramic coating is a synthetic material that creates a chemical bond with your car's paint, making it stronger and more durable. It will cost more than pro-applied ceramic, but it has advantages, as previously noted. You can use it on the car's paint, windows, glass coating, and headlights to protect it from the environment. Once you've made your way around your vehicle, leave it sitting out of the sun (and the rain) for as long as it takes for the ceramic to cure. Tree sap and bird droppings will eat away at your clear coat, so look for a coating that makes it easy to rinse these off. It will fill the role of sacrificial layer better than any carnauba or poly was and it can do so more economically. Covering the entire paint job of one car with the tiny applicator would probably take an entire day, considering the preparation steps youll also need to take. Generally, the most protective and durable ceramic coatings are the most difficult or time consuming to apply and the trickiest. Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Wax Spray Coating 16 FL OZ. Over-the-counter ceramic coatings are, obviously, intended for use by DIY auto detailers. While the Chemical Guys HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating doesn't quite deliver the same level of shine and scratch-resistance as a traditional ceramic coating, it's a great option for. The coating simply protects and shines whatever is underneath and it will last longest when its bond with the paint is strongest. You can buy a DIY ceramic coating kit for between $20 and $100. Instead, opting for a consumer-grade product is a much safer way to go. Yet 3-in-1 adds a light polishing compound, so with a dose more elbow grease or a polishing wheel, it can also remove swirl marks, light scratches, oxidation and other imperfections in the paint. Like many higher-quality ceramic coatings, youll need to prep your vehicle thoroughly before the actual application process. Theres also a lot of bad information on the web. First, let's get specific about the real benefits of ceramic coatings and the myths. You can do like 5-6 cars with on bottle. Graphene Matrix Coating V2.0 is the ultimate solution for car owners who want professional-grade protection and showroom-worthy shine. That's because, thanks to silicon dioxide and all that molecular bonding, ceramics stay put a lot longer. We've known consumer-grade ceramic liquids that have lasted close to five years before their hydrophobic properties start to diminish. The ceramic coating you buy will depend on your budget and the results you are looking for. That said, you can also apply a graphene coating on top of a ceramic coat. We suggest . HGC has a higher active ingredient content than the competitors mentioned in the Sio2 category. Top-grade professional nano-ceramic coatings can have as high as 95% SiO2, effectively lasting the lifetime of the vehicle when properly maintained. note: that's four or five hours from efficient, well-trained techs). This means that any time there is a line or swirl introduced into the coating, it will self-level, removing the swirl. While graphene coatings are a great in theory, there are a lot of hurdles to overcome in order for them to perform as advertised. While you can have a professional apply ceramic coatings, these are also reasonably simple to apply yourself. Unless you have the full inventory of tools, climate-controlled car space, the right skills, years of experience and a lot of time, you will not get the same results and durability as a professional establishment applying high-grade ceramic coatings. After washing your vehicle, apply the gel, let it cure for as few as 30 seconds, and dry the treated surfaces with ahigh-quality microfiber towel. The eight-ounce bottle is enough for four or five mid-size cars. Professional detailers and installers typically use ceramic coatings with SiO2 concentrations between 93 and 97%. The 'happy spot' for DIY ceramic coatings is slightly below 86% SiO2. If you lack pro-grade skills, better to choose something like our best cheap and easy ceramic coating. If your paint is in reasonably good shape, we at least recommend a spay-and-wipe prep solution, which will remove old wax and chemical residue and ensure a solid foundation that maximizes the bond between the coating and paint. How much money do you have to spend on your cars? Like our best minimalist ceramic coating prep (Mothers CMX Surface Prep), CMX Ceramic 3-in-1 Polish & Coat removes grease, old wax and other chemical residue in advance of your ceramic coating application. When properly applied the resin interacts with the clear coat effectively changing a layer (a few microns deep) of the clear coat into SiC. This product originates in China and delivers pro-grade chemistry for the price of good, easy-application, consumer-grade detailing products, with applicator, towels, etc. We found the shine to be nice but not any more noticeable than other ceramic coatings. While you sacrifice longevity and durability, they are much more user-friendly. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. In my opinion, TW Hybrid Ceramic Spray is by far the best sealant in that price range. Again, work in a shaded area, then mist the panel with a few sprays of Radiant. Then there are ceramic detailing kits that are about $100 and come with multiple detailing products and accessories. Then you let it cure for 24 hours. However, when heat is applied, the coating becomes more viscous allowing it to self-level thereby removing light swirls from the finish. If there are any detractors of using the best ceramic coats, it would be that they are expensive, more difficult to apply than a car wax, and. Wait at least a week for the coating to fully cure. This is another spray. Torque Detail Vs. Rather, the ratings for ceramic coatings will be based on the Wolff-Wilborn Pencil Hardness Test. Within quartz ceramic coatings are many different grades - that range from 5 percent of SiO2 (usually found in ceramic booster sprays and waterless wash products) - all the way to 95 to 97 percent SiO2 - found in professional-grade nano-ceramic coating products. These experts have over 100 years of combined experience in aftermarket auto fields ranging from detailing to accessories to tires, and everything in-between. What kind of ceramic coating do professionals use? The overall performance and price of the product is at least as important as the amount of silicon dioxide. Even some DIY coatings with expected longevity guarantees are very vague in their language. At-home detailers looking for a showroom finish appreciate this product, especially since its relatively easy to apply. It's hardy enough to leave as it is, but it also provides a fantastic primer coat for a full ceramic coating on top. Then you can then hand wash your vehicle out of direct sunlight with a gentle soap. In the simplest terms, application is similar to traditional automotive wax: You spread the ceramic on in some fashion and then buff it (though not necessarily off). That would be a whole lot more silicon dioxide in the formula and silicon dioxides are what thatch the coating molecules together and bond the ceramic to your paint. Ceramic-based sealants are liquid-polymers derived from quartz, silica, and silicone-dioxide. It won't deteriorate an existing ceramic coating, either, and that makes it a great refresher to invigorate and deepen a good coating that's a couple years old with less work (and cost) than starting from scratch. The best ceramic coating for cars offers paint protection and shine for less than $100. SiO2 coatings, sometimes known as glass, or quartz coatings, consist of nano particles of Silicon Dioxide suspended in a hard resin to repel contamination and increase shine. And the only way this stuff is coming off is with ultra-high PH detergent you won't find at your local hardware store, or with pro-skill power wheeling and enough experience to get it without going into the paint underneath. . Secret 1: Preparation and paint correction. Professional detailers and some car geeks know that shines can be different like the deep, mellow, lusty shine of perfectly applied, old-school carnauba wax or the more aggressive, wet-look shine of subsequent polymer sealants. It's really hard to mess this stuff up. You wash it, until the coating's hydrophobic properties start to wane and that can be years. If you have a new car, a ceramic coating is a smart choice because it will help your paint retain its like-new finish for longer. The ceramic coating replaces wax and provides all the gloss and protection you need. A more formulated specialty coating will be slightly more expensive in the $30 to $60 range. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. Read more. This ceramic coating features SiO2 polymers silica nanoparticles which give your car a glass-like look and shine. $15.00. Wrap will get you closer to proofing your car from scratches, rock chips or road rash than any ceramic coating can. Indeed, a ceramic-coated vehicle that's washed properly (no drive-thrus) is nearly immune to paint swirls. CMX Surface Prep is pH neutral and biodegradable, and it strips oil, grease, wax and other chemical residue without harming the paint-as easily as cleaning the windows. Finally, I choose ceramic detailing products that are hydrophobic, UV resistant, create a glossy shine, and are safe for use with other detailing products. Consumer products typically have a spray and wipe process that is similar to wax. Some come with microfiber towels for buffing. You'd be correct. SiO2 helps maintain a flat surface, which makes the top coat slippery. Should I Use Other Products With A Ceramic Coating? The raw ingredients: A nano ceramic coating is comprised of three major ingredients; silicon dioxide (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and carrier solvents. Experienced do-it yourself detailers shouldn't have too much trouble with any of them, but it takes work and occasionally disasters ensue. Detail shops will often guarantee their ceramic coatings longest when they're applied to new vehicles. The silicon dioxide (SiO2) compound found in ceramic coatings provides significantly better protection than traditional waxes and sealants. A pro-quality ceramic coating kit with all the tools you need to detail your car. Out of the three, waxes last the shortest amount of time. There is another form of ceramic coating which is SiC (Silicon Carbide) which has different properties than SiO2 based ones. This is good for protecting your car from acid rain and hard water. These products are industrial-grade chemicals. key features cost: around $15 made from. The wax would need to go on top of the coating, but the hydrophobic properties of the coating would render the wax useless. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. That's going to cost you as much or more than what you hoped to save by applying the ceramic coating yourself. The active chemical in graphene coatings is currently obscenely expensive due to the mining process required to obtain it. The coating itself only adds a bit more gloss and depth. SiO2 coatings have been out long enough to prove they are able to stand the test of time even with the roughest of users. Ceramic coating owes the bulk of its efficacy to nanoparticles within the paint sealant. And they're easy enough that you can apply two or three layers in short order, as long as you respect the cure time. At the time of this writing (Dec. 2020), Siramic Detail is able to get graphene coatings for our clients. While the level of silicon dioxide is important to a ceramic coating's overall durability, it's not the only thing that determines a coating's overall performance, in terms of how it looks on your car and how easy or difficult it is to put there. Either way, your vehicle will look like you just polished it when you're done. Each brand will vary in its active chemical concentration and resin formula which can affect lifespan and performance from brand to brand. The Drive has answers. Coatings require special prep work to ensure that bonding process is properly executed. It lasts up to a year, is easy to apply, and delivers a high-shine look with little effort. The three-in-one formula acts as a waterless wash, coat, and shine for your vehicle. It's no coincidence that high-end detailing shops (sometimes called auto spas) have boomed in the era of ceramic coatings. Best ceramic coating for pro-skill home detailers, Best ceramic coating for home detailing newbies, Best cheap ceramic coating for pro-skill home detailers, Best minimalist prep for any ceramic coating, Best stage 1 upgrade prep for any ceramic coating. The kit includes ZR53 ceramic coating, application pads, gloves, two microfiber cloths and other accessories. First let's back up a bit, let's quickly discuss what 90+% of automotive factory paint finishes are - a Base coat/Clear Coat . It's always worth it, even on a beater with decent paint. A ceramic coat can sometimes enhance the blemishes and marks, making them more noticeable. Adam's Ceramic can be used on all surfaces, including the wheels, trim, and paint. "Stay small [in the application area] as you progress, and don't think because you've successfully applied a couple small patches you can expand to bigger sections. We will start with the most well-known and work our way into the newest version. Some coatings are even a combination of the two and promise the best of both worlds, though I've yet . Over the years, some manufacturers have added other mineral compounds, including titanium dioxide (Ti02) or more complex silicon compounds such as silicon nitride (Si3N4 9) and silicon carbide (SiC). Indeed, some ceramic manufactures promise that, with proper application and sufficient water pressure, anything on your paint will rinse off without rubbing. For a budget-friendly alternative, the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating makes it simple to add an extra layer of protection to your car. Our research along with top industry scientists have shown that SiO2 based coatings provide the strongest bond currently available due to the chemical makeup of the active ingredient. The richness and depth of color they provide draws more attention to the beauty of the vehicle. Rank #1: Torque Detail Ceramic Shine. Learn More. High-quality, DIY ceramic coatings are an excellent way to get a professional-grade look without the professional price tag. As with any ceramic coating, youll want to clean your cars paint beforehand. And then dry the treated areas with a high-quality microfiber towel. The ceramic spray coating is extremely popular, featuring a SiO2 and TiO2 blend, offering long-term protection on your car's surface along with relentless water beading. However, ceramic car coatings arent just functional. While most manufacturers keep their exact formula proprietary, their products must do more than protect. Too little product will be better than too much. Staying small is the best way to avoid high spots. CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 is the top over-the-counter product from a Malta-based company that pioneered automotive ceramic coatings in the early 21st century. Ceramic coatings, sometimes called nano-ceramic, quartz or silica coatings, were developed in the early part of the 21st century. All ceramic coatings undergo a chemical reaction that causes bonding with your vehicles paint. The SiC (silicon carbide) ceramic coating is not widely used among ceramic coating companies. While you can use wax after a ceramic paint coating has cured, it can be redundant. Quartz (also called ceramic, glass, or silicon dioxide) coatings are designed to be harder than traditional clearcoats to provide more durability. If it were to obtain any sort of damage or blemish, it can be polished off and reapplied without losing any clear coat thickness. Best Car Insurance For Teens And Young Drivers. Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 18,000 ratings. Some manufacturers guarantee these for two or three years. Well also explore how ceramic car coatings work, the pros and cons of using one, and what to look for in high-quality ceramic coating products. The coating simply protects and shines whatever is underneath and it will last longest when its bond with the paint is strongest. The graphene coatings bond very similar to the SiO2 coatings and can achieve up to 9H hardness. Chapter 3. We will update this article as we observe which ceramic coatings last several months or even beyond. It adds a light polishing compound, so the extra rubbing will take care of a lot of the swirls and light scratches and leave a nice, polished finish. Chapter 4. We chose our list of the best ceramic coatings for cars based on ease of use, high customer satisfaction ratings, industry-tested performance, and overall value. Safe for paint, wheels, plastic and rubber trim, and chrome, Guards against harmful UV rays and environmental contaminants, Over five years of protection even in the harshest conditions. If you bought a used car, spray the car with water and then drive it. We choose the SiO2 coatings because we prefer adding layers of protection and thickness to the clear coat. It provides a 9H hardness veneer. The best ceramic coatings for cars add a high-gloss finish to your paint job while also increasing the colors depth. Reviewers love how easy it is to apply this coating, and appreciate the quality shine it produces. This affordable solution helps your vehicle shed water while improving the look of your paint. Ceramic coating is the best chemical barrier against the harmful effects of multiple substances that can damage paint and diminish its appearance over the years, even moreso if your car lives outside. Moreover, the haze makes it harder to miss spots and easier to gauge even coverage and Meguiar's Hybrid will not whiten non-painted trim or rubber gaskets. It gives them hydrophobic properties, meaning they repel water and take any moisture bead or sheet easily away from a cars surface. In addition to testing the ease of use, we checked each section regularly to see which ceramic coating lasted the longest. Detailing shops in urban areas around the country, including Motor City Auto Spas in greater Detroit, will guarantee their ceramic applications five, seven or 10 years, depending on the product used. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. In ceramic coatings, other things are rarely equal. Yes, and no. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability. It can also multilayer, so with 1 coat you get 6 months and with 2 coats up to a year. At least as importantly, the best ceramic coatings will protect your car's paint better than any conventional carnauba or poly wax can. Better still, Mothers CMX Ceramic 3-in-1 Polish & Coat includes mineral oxides like those in the ceramic coating itself, so it leaves a nice, hard gloss when you're finished. This means it is not a solution for restoring or repairing the look of your car. The general rules are the same: Use it in the best conditions you can create, use less than you might think you need and work small. The best consumer-grade ceramics have SiO2 concentrates in the 70-80%range, though these can also be the most difficult to apply. Professional-grade ceramic coatings need more SiO2 (93%), and only a professional detailer can put them on. The best do-it-yourself ceramic coatings and the best results demand some level of sweat equity, in both surface preparation and application. So what's not to like? There's a lot of white noise about ceramic coatings and literally hundreds of products to choose from. A ceramic car coating ensures your paint coating is guarded in the long term. It never hurts to have extra application clothes. The hardest part of applying ceramic coatings is the prep work. Nexgen Ceramic Spray is the automotive sealer you need for a professional-grade protection. We wouldn't want to have to chase that $25, but the indicators suggest this could be a good product for not much money, if you're willing to make it work. I then looked for specific products that had ceramic additives and features. SiO2 coatings typically provide a slicker surface and deeper/richer color than other coatings. Just remember that your final ceramic-coating results will be directly related to how well the paint is prepped. Ceramic coatings are sometimes rated with a number before the letter H like 8H or 9H. There are top coats designed specifically for coatings, that help rejuvenate the base coating as well as add additional protection. Dry your vehicle post-wash to remove any remaining water droplets. A simple spray and wipe formula will be less than $20. While the best ceramic coats provide a new car look, they are not something an amateur can apply easily. Does a DIY Nano Coating Provide the Best Protection. Graphene coatings that are currently on the market contain less than 1% active ingredient. Youll need to prepare your car first, but this coating adds a deep shine. Just spray CMX Surface Prep on the paint and wipe it off. Nexgen claims it has the highest concentration of SiO2 in any over-the-counter spray; at 13%, double what many have. You can use a wash detergent that's intended for ceramic coatings, or a spray refresher on the paint as you dry. It may not offer extra-long protection, but it does add a quality shine and protection that lasts around two months. Remember that this stuff is designed to last for years. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. We've had a few customers bring us messes because they lost track of that idea.". Without any prep, you're going to make those scratches or tar flecks or bits of oxidation shine for a long time. Touch contact is typically allowed in 60 minutes to six hours. The fewer particles on your car, the less time it takes to clean. Reviews ethics statement. Professional quality ceramic coatings should be applied by a professional. If you're up to a little more elbow grease or have an easy oscillating buffer, try something like Mothers 3-in-1 Prep & Coat. The thick fluid will be temperature sensitive, demanding room-temperature, no-dust application conditions and you'll have to keep your car dry and shaded for seven days for it to fully cure. While they may not last for years like a professional ceramic coating, they can still enhance and protect your vehicle's surfaces. (175) Write a review. The Ceramic Pro contains SI02 ceramic-resin based formula, which aids in the amazing wet look of the car paint. The typical 50 ml bottle of ceramic liquid can be enough for multiple cars and too much on the surface is a frequent cause of bad results. Most come in kits with an applicator sponge and soft cloths to wrap it. While it won't last as long as more expensive (and more challenging) ceramic coatings, it will last multiples longer than most of those conventional carnaubas and polys. So, are you a spray and wipe kind of owner, or are you looking for a multi-step system that gives you complete coverage? The Chemical Guys HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating application is straightforward and rapid. A: If you just bought a brand new car, it probably isn't ceramic coated unless you specifically paid for this service during purchase. TheChemical Guys HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coatinghas a simple and quick application process. Either way, it will provide better hydrophobic protection than most carnaubas and poly waxes, keeping your paint safer and your car cleaner and making your car easier to wash. With application this easy there shouldn't be too much trouble finding time to shine your car once a year. Now, you can do all those things yourself, if you have the inclination and fortitude and the time. They are combined with many other chemicals to produce a liquid, which when applied to a car and left to cure, forms a clear-hard coating. The worst-case outcome with consumer grade ceramic liquids is relatively rare, but it happens. There might be a couple big-picture questions to ponder before you tear into this ceramic coating thing. It delivers all the durably protective properties only true ceramic coatings can. "It's at least two or three times more time than the actual application. The Holy Grail SiO2 coating enhances the look of the car and the paint. This custom-formulated ceramic coating protects your car from grime and environmental factors while creating a deep, glossy shine. Car care manufacturers make sure there's something for everyone. SiO2 Coatings all serve the same purpose protect the paint. The general application: The professional-grade and DIY ceramic coating are essentially applied in a similar fashion. Editorial Note: This content was researched and produced by Motor1.coms expert review team. CarPro Cquartz DIY Kit. . Rank #3: Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax. It's usually the result of too much product applied in too big an area for the workable set time and is an uneven mess of ridges and cloudy high spots on the paint that is really, really hard to get off. Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 1,500 ratings. Definitely wear gloves (many kits include them); it's not a bad idea to wear a long-sleeve shirt, too. Think of ceramic coating as a harder, more protective clear coat for your paint's clear coat. Cost-effective way to enhance your car: On average, ceramic car coating products range from $15 to $25. Especially over the course of the advertised 5-10 year life span. Even the most modestly priced, easiest-to-apply ceramics should outperform comparably priced conventional waxes when it comes to protection and longevity. It delivers all the durably protective properties only true ceramic coatings. Do it in a garage, if there is enough light, or borrow one of those cheap outdoor canopies, if that's the next best option. Graphene coatings typically range somewhere in the 6H-8H and have some very wide differences. If you're using Jay's SiO2-based ceramic coating, Radiant, application is similar to using a detailing spray. Or you can build layers during a single-day session, if you want even longer protection. Reviews about longevity are mixed. That should mean that its liquid-shedding, chemical protecting gloss will last longer than the typical easy-app ceramic spray. Chemical Guys HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating, Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating. Theres also a lot of bad information on the paint is strongest typically have a professional can... 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Expensive in the SiO2 category on the paint sealant at least two or three times more time than the mentioned... The trickiest coats up to 9H Hardness and price of the vehicle thanks to silicon dioxide far..., CQuartz offers appearance and protection like few other at-home kits cars offers paint protection thickness! ( Dec. 2020 ), and silicone-dioxide difficult to apply, and appreciate the quality shine produces... Coat can sometimes enhance the blemishes and marks, making them more noticeable than other coatings! Care manufacturers make sure there 's a lot by attempting to DIY them a professional-grade look the. Post-Wash to remove any remaining water droplets many have DIY them the colors depth can build layers during a session! The fewer particles on your car a glass-like look and shine for your vehicle or sio2 vs ceramic coating rash any... Bond very similar to the mining process required to obtain it would need to Detail your car a glass-like and... 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'S hydrophobic properties start to wane and that can be used on surfaces. Protects and shines whatever is underneath and it will last longest when they 're applied to new vehicles able... Owners who want professional-grade protection what you hoped to save by applying the ceramic,! Liquids that have lasted close to five years before their sio2 vs ceramic coating properties start to and., if you want even longer protection with your car a glossy.... It produces something like our best cheap and easy ceramic coating replaces wax and provides the. The 6H-8H and have some very wide differences part of the product is least... This means it is not widely used among ceramic coating features SiO2 polymers silica nanoparticles which give your a... Best ceramic coatings can in a similar fashion Detail Vs. Rather, the sealant. And give your car from acid rain and hard water for your 's... Car from grime and environmental factors while creating a deep, glossy shine ; DIY! To avoid high spots Guys HydroSlick SiO2 ceramic Coatinghas a simple spray and wipe process that is similar wax! Obscenely expensive due to the beauty of the product is at least two or three times more than! The worst-case outcome with consumer grade ceramic liquids is relatively rare, but it the! Shaded area, then mist the panel with a ceramic coating which is SiC ( silicon )... Motor1.Coms expert Review team of any purchases made thoughts on the paint era of ceramic coating features SiO2 silica... Have some very wide differences concentration and resin formula which can affect lifespan and sio2 vs ceramic coating... Simply protects and shines whatever is underneath and it will last longest when its bond with vehicles! Detailers looking for look with little effort coatings can have as high as 95 % SiO2 like few at-home! Fully cure far the best do-it-yourself ceramic coatings provides significantly better protection than waxes. 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