What is Paint Protection Film:

Paint Protection Film (PPF), also known as Clear Bra, is an 8mil thick clear flexible film, made out of polyurethane. It comes with a specially formulated adhesive in the back, which safely adheres to the surface of your car. PPF can be applied on top of existing paint, or vinyl wrap to protect it from harsh driving conditions. Typically, Paint Protection Films posses heat activating self healing properties, meaning scratches heal on their own when some heat is applied.

One of the greatest features of paint protection film is that it saves you money when it comes to a panel repair. If something happens and your car gets scratched, you won’t need to replace the whole car part, or get it repainted. If your car is protected with PPF, a team of trained installers will simply remove the film, and get it replaced with a new piece. Typically, PPF withstands general damage occurring during daily driving.

Key Features:

• Self Healing – most scratches will disappear with heat
• Explicit Texture – high gloss and matte finishes
• Discolouration and Stain Resistance – film remains clear under the harshest conditions
• Non yellowing – film will not yellow from UV exposure
• Edge Seal Technology – film will not start lifting on edges
• Mirror Smooth Finish – protection should be indistinguishable from factory paint
• Durability – superior impact protection

Paint Protection Film Benefits:

• Protection against rock chips, scuffs and scratches
• Protection against stains, spills, bird droppings, and bug guts
• Protecting from negative effects of UV light
• Ease of repairability
• Preserveness of resale value
• Extensive product warranty

What is Graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms bonded together in a hexagonal lattice. It is the thinnest and strongest material on earth, and it has many unique properties that make it perfect for coating vehicles.

Graphene is a ceramic coating that has been improved upon—creating a more robust, more durable paint protection with the most recent graphene-based technology. Furthermore, Graphene coatings have been found to be less prone to water beading and etching than ceramic formulations due to their lower reactivity.

What is Ceramic Coating?

Auto manufacturers were looking for a long-lasting, low-cost alternative to paint correction that would seal in UV and environmental protection. These coatings, when applied, link together and covalently bond to paint surfaces, sealing them on a molecular level and creating a hydrophobic barrier between the car and the environment.

These coatings are usually composed of various forms of Silicon, Silicon Dioxide, or other types of Silicates. This material outperforms typical carnauba waxes and polymer-based sealants in weathering resistance or deterioration.

Why is Graphene Better than Ceramic Coating?

There are several reasons why graphene is the better choice over traditional ceramic coating. Firstly, graphene is much thinner and stronger than a ceramic coating, so it provides more years of protection against scratches and environmental damage.

Additionally, graphene is more durable and less prone to water spotting and etching than ceramic coatings. Graphene is a much more environmentally-friendly material than a ceramic coating, and it is also cheaper to produce.

Graphene is better at electricity and heat absorption than a ceramic coating, making it ideal for protecting vehicles from rust and corrosion.

You might have come across the terms Ceramic Coating and Paint protection film after buying a new car. It is often confusing to decide whether to opt for paint protection and what level of detailing or protection to go for. In this article, we will do a detailed comparison of PPF vs ceramic coating.

Importance of coating

Your vehicle can accumulate minor and major scratches when you put it to good use. Everyone wants their car to look like it just came out of the showroom, but this is not a simple task. How much ever you try, scratches are unavoidable. coatings act as an invisible hard layer on top of the vehicle’s original paint. These layers can prevent dust, scratches, and other foreign elements from contacting the paint. 

Paint Protection Film (PPF)

The paint protection film is a 100% optically clear thermoplastic polyurethane material. This film can be directly applied to the exterior paint of a vehicle. This layer helps to preserve the quality of the OEM paint and reduce the risk of damages like:

• Swirl marks from car wash
• Scratches from dirt and debris
• chemical stains
• key damage or vandalism
• minor scratches

The paint protection film is extremely resistant to acidic substances such as bug splatters, road grime, and bird droppings. It is also corrosion-free. The elastomeric polymer lets the film adapt to the complex shapes of your vehicle and maintain a natural shape after installation. The paint protection film has self-healing abilities, when the film gets minor scratches or swirl this allows the film to return to its original form when heat is applied.

Ceramic coating

Ceramic coating has become a popular term in the automotive industry. It is a liquid polymer capable of providing a microscopic layer of protection to your car’s paint. Ceramic coating is made from silica and other ingredients which when infused with the clear coat, a chemical bond is created. This new layer is hydrophobic and keeps away water and external contaminants from damaging the paint of the car. Ceramic coatings come in 30ml bottles, even though they might not look enough to cover the whole car this small amount of chemical can do wonders to your car’s paint job.

Ceramic coating can protect your car against:

• Chemical staining
• Chemical etch marks
• Fading from UV exposure

Ceramic coating vs PPF which is better?

After reading about both the options you might be confused on which one to select ceramic coating or PPF. we will compare the similarities and differences between the two to make it more simple. 

Both PPF and ceramic coatings are recommended because they share many advantages, but they have distinctive features that will help you find the best fit for your vehicle.

PPF offers better protection against damage from road debris and rock chips than ceramic coating. PPF has the ability to absorb damage even before it touches the paint. Unlike PPF, the ceramic coating does not have a urethane film to protect the paint, however, it does a great job of providing a glossy finish. On the other hand, ceramic coating is a much more permanent solution. PPF offers much more protection, however, it may need to be replaced as the film may turn yellow and blister over time. PPF can also tarnish the gloss of the paint, while the ceramic coating improves it.

Points to remember:

Ceramic coating

• Cosmetic value.
• More convenient to clean.
• Keeps contaminants off the car paint.
• Improves appearance.
• Best suitable for use in city roads

Paint protection film

• Better protective value against scratches and hard water spots.
• Better durability.
• Self-heals, stop rock chips.
• Prevents swirl marks during washing.
• Suitable for rough use and driving on country roads.

Verdict

Both PPF and Ceramic coating has multiple different advantages. If you prefer for beauty and detailing of the protection of your vehicle’s paint, the ceramic coating might be the better choice. Paint protection film suits your interest if you want to handle minor and major scratches easily and want a durable layer of protection.

Another option is to go for dual protection. Apply both ceramic coating and paint protection film on your car. This might be an expensive alternative but this will provide the detailing and hydrophobic properties of ceramic coatings and durability and protection of PPF.