The question gets asked a lot: what’s the difference between a ceramic coating and wax (or sealant for that matter)? It makes sense that there’s confusion around the topic – terms like these are often used interchangeably and most people were taught to understand that a wax IS A sealant and both of them are a form of coating. In a lot of ways that’s true, but as detailing technology continues to evolve, paint protection materials have become more advanced, and distinct differences between these terms have begun to emerge.
Waxes, sealants & ceramic coatings have distinct advantages and are specifically suited for different applications. In this write-up, we’ll go over some of the common misconceptions, the definitions of each, and hopefully help establish an understanding of how these terms are different and when it’s best to use each of them.
What is a wax?
Wax can be a diverse blend of materials that are referred to as "malleable solids" – basically a substance that can change form from a solid to a liquid at ambient or slightly elevated temperatures. Wax serves as a protective, sacrificial barrier between your car's paint and the environment. In the automotive world carnauba, montan, and paraffin waxes are most commonly used, but there are synthetic variants as well.
The first thing to note is that the wax you apply to your car is never in its 100% wax form. You’ll frequently see marketing messages that claim a product to be 100% carnauba wax, but this is a
little misleading as it’s typically referring to the purity of the wax in a specific product. To achieve the desired result we have to add solvents that the wax is soluble in. We’ll also blend in oils that provide lubrication along with scents & colorants. By blending different types of waxes together we can achieve different results like ease-of-use, clarity, and color enhancement.
What is a ceramic coating?
A more recent development in detailing technology has been ceramic-based paint protection. (You’ve probably heard numerous terms/names, most commonly ceramic coating, silica, quartz, silicone dioxide, or even SiO2). This new ceramic material acts very differently from wax in the sense that it will actually generate a curing property once applied to a surface. This curing creates a chemical bond with the surface on which it’s being applied, in this case, our car’s paint. Once they’re applied & cured, ceramic-based protectants are extremely resistant to water, soaps, and of course environmental pollutants.
Ceramic protectants (coatings) provide much higher durability than wax. They resist heat, UV rays, environmental contaminants & harsh detergents much better than wax.
Wax on the other hand simply sits on top of the paint’s surface. It does not create the chemical bond we find with ceramic coatings.
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