How We Went From Animal Fat to Ceramic Coating to Maintain Your Car’s Paint
When you fall in love with your car, you fall in love with everything – including the paint! The wear and tear and accidental door dings your car endures regularly not only ruins your exterior finish, it revs up your nerves.
Forget about store-bought wax and old plastic sheets, because professional ceramic coating is the only way to get the paint protection you’ve been looking for. Sit back and relax, as we travel through the history of auto paint protection and show you how the professionals at Auto Image can save your paint.
What Is Ceramic Coating, Anyway?
Ceramic coating for cars is an inorganic protective clear coating to protect your paint from minor scratches, dings, the weather, and UV rays. Many professional ceramic coating applications have ceramic polymer chains, which are self-healing.
This means if your ceramic coating is scratched, then it can return to its original state after using a gentle heat source, like a hair dryer, or by letting your vehicle sit in the sun for a short period of time.
Bonus Fact: The right ceramic coating for cars can last for several years before you need to bring your car in for reapplication. So, if you’re looking for the best ceramic coating near you, schedule an appointment with the experts at Auto Image, where your car is always in excellent hands.
The History of Ceramic Coating Starts With Horse Carriages
We think of wax as a common item, but it wasn’t refined for paint protection until the 1800s. The first vehicle wax was created in Bischofsheim, Germany. It was made with animal fat and used to polish and protect the paint on horse carriages.
However, it wasn’t until 1886 when the first vehicle rolled onto roads and streets that manufacturers worked to improve the quality of paint protection.
Bonus Fact: Wax for coaches and carriages was made from animal fat. This provided a glossy shine and protected the paint, but didn’t last long in the sun. That’s because fat has a low-melting point, and is easily affected by just the smallest amount of heat.
We Saw the Introduction of Carnauba Wax in the 1900s
Also called Brazil wax, carnauba wax is a natural plant wax made from the leaves of the carnauba tree. In 1910, George Simons developed a carnauba wax product to protect cars from scratches and smooth paint finishes. You can still purchase carnauba wax for vehicles at most grocery stores.
However, it only lasts for a few weeks or until you wash your car. It’s also easy to use too much wax, which clouds your paint and causes build-up. This build-up clings to dirt and pollutants that could cause big stains on your gorgeous paint.
Bonus Fact: At Auto Image, we love 3M! Not only do they produce the best window tint on the market, they’re also responsible for creating masking tape in 1925. This allowed drivers everywhere to customize their vehicle with two-toned paint.
Finally, Paint Protection Gets a High-Tech Upgrade in 1969
The first polymer sealant for automobiles was introduced in 1969, and it changed the game of vehicle paint protection. DuPont created a lab-based sealant for metallic-based paints that provided the best protection yet against scratches. It also produced a glossy shine that made your car look like it had just left the car wash.
This form of paint protection also only lasts for a few weeks or until your next car wash. DuPont has improved its paint protection sealants, but they still need to be reapplied about every six months.
Bonus Fact: If you still like the look of a freshly waxed car, Auto Image will hand-wax your vehicle’s exterior when you book a professional automotive detailing. Just give one of our auto accessories stores in New Jersey a call, and we’ll get you on the schedule!
We Waited 40 More Years for Ceramic Coating Technology
In 2010, a series of nano-ceramic products were developed to protect vehicle surfaces. These products provided a deep shine, high gloss, and effortless protection from heat, moisture, oxidation, UV rays, and damage to car paint.
At Auto Image, we only use 3M ceramic coating, because it extensively prolongs the life of your car’s paint and keeps your exterior looking brand-new. It repels water and other paint-damaging contaminants with its incredible hydrophobic properties.
Bonus Fact: Professionals in industries like commercial trucking companies, solar panel manufacturers, and airlines prefer 3M ceramic coatings.
Are you ready to drive a vehicle with an award-winning shine while protecting it from the elements? Then book an appointment with Auto Image by calling our East Brunswick location at (732) 254-2727, or Brick location at (732) 920-0606, or contacting us online. Don’t forget to schedule a professional car detailing while you’re at it!
