Finding Success with Ceramic Coatings
by Mel Villalon
The success of ceramic coatings has been a great marriage with PPF, vinyl and window film consumers. This has not gone unnoticed among film installers, who are rising up and also offering ceramic coatings.
Maybe you’re on the fence or maybe you’ve already decided to get into the game. I reached out to some of our installer and manufacturer friends and got some tidbits of knowledge and experience. Let’s demystify some terms and learn what to look for and why. Better protection and compliant warranty programs offered by some companies have boosted sales and given the detail client true protection. There are several great coatings on the market and most fall into one of two categories: resin based and solvent based.
Special Considerations
Dann “E” Williams is president of business development, Owner’s Pride Car Care and host of the Owner’s Pride Podcast.
“Resin-based coatings leave behind a thin layer of resin with nanoparticles, generally SiO2, suspended in the resin, which sits on the paint. The disadvantage to this technology is that over time the nanoparticles can flake out leaving voids in the resin,” says Williams. “These generally need a yearly reapplication or special maintenance to fill the voids. Application towels must be discarded after completing the install. Solvent-based coatings are applied with a wet layer of product onto the panel and a chemical cross link occurs under the solvent. At this point, the solvent beads up on top of the ceramic and only the solvent is removed, leaving behind more ceramic. The application towels in solvent-based coatings don’t tend to become stiff and crispy with resin and can even be used on paint afterwards.”
But what about surfaces other than paint, I asked? He told me that there are many different coatings designed for different substrates. For example, a glass coating may use carbon nanotube technology, as it is more in line with the composition of glass.
“Interior vehicle coatings may include a flex agent to make them more malleable to move around with the softer substrate,” he said.
Collaborative Opportunity
Aaron Darling is with Auto Obsessions in Matthews, North Carolina. His core skill started with window tinting. He is a past competitor and finalist in the International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off™ and was a silver medalist in the 2015 Automotive Tint-Off. He has also been recognized with multiple dealer awards.
His skills evolved to PPF about 10 years ago and ceramic coatings about seven years ago. He chose to be an IGL Kenzo dealer.
“Adding ceramic coating to an already existing PPF or detailing company just makes sense,” says Darling. “It offers a next-level experience and protection for the client and adds additional revenue to your business.”
You’ve probably seen the term 9H thrown around in reference to ceramic coatings or tempered screen protectors having the toughness rated along the pencil scale. This designation means the coating can resist scratching from a 9H pencil lead.
Brodie Matthews, USA sales team leader for Autobahn, says that they have released an 11H coating and 10 mil PPF compared to the industry standard 8 mil. With customers wanting more protection, installers that are willing to push their limits have come to embrace more profits and personal pride as they have overcome the learning curve and increased the distance between themselves and the average.
It has been thrilling to watch coatings develop over time as chemists and detailers test and create better technologies. It will be exciting to see how ceramic coatings advance and become even more resilient to offer better protection and help film businesses thrive. The future looks bright for the ceramic coatings industry. Will it shine for you, too?
Mel Villalon is the general manager of Paradise Tinting in Long Beach, Calif.
To view the laid-in version of this issue in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.