3-Categories: Waxes, Paint Sealants and Coatings


In an effort to help standardize terms used in the detailing industry, now that CQuartz and Opti-Coat 2.0 are mainstream, there are three general categories in the "Protection" category

  • Waxes
  • Paint Sealants
  • Coatings


Waxes
Generally defined as any product that contains a natural or synthetic waxy ingredients that are intended to protect the paint and/or add beauty to the paint. These types traditional waxes will wear off under normal wear-n-tear, repeated washings and exposure to the environment.


Paint Sealants
Generally defined as any protection product that contains man-made or synthetic ingredients that are intended to protect the paint and/or add beauty to the paint. These traditional sealants will wear off under normal wear-n-tear, repeated washings and exposure to the environment.


Semi-Permanent and/or Permanent Coatings
Generally defined as any protection product that contains man-made or synthetic ingredients that are intended to semi-permanently protect the paint and/or add beauty to the paint.

These types of coatings are as close to a permanent coating as possible as current technology allows but can be removed through typically an abrading process similar to removing below surface defects like swirls, scratches and water spots.

Definition of permanent in the context of sealing paint
This is kind of tricky just because the nature of discussion forums is for some personality types to read super literal into each and every single word, in this case the word permanent.

Quote Originally Posted by From TheFreeDictionary.com
per·ma·nent (pûrm-nnt)
adj.
1. Lasting or remaining without essential change: "the universal human yearning for something permanent, enduring, without shadow of change" (Willa Cather).

2. Not expected to change in status, condition, or place: a permanent address; permanent secretary to the president.
n.

In the context that we refer to coating as permanent it means that once the coating is properly applied and allowed to cure and set-up, it will not come off under normal circumstances or via normal wear-n-tear such as careful washing. So in this context, a coating is permanent in the same manner your car`s paint is permanent.

The paint on your car is not going to come off unless you abrade it, chemically dissolve it or in some other mechanical means, purposefully remove it. In this same way, legitimate paint coatings are not going to come off unless you abrade it, chemically dissolve it or on some other mechanical means, purposefully remove it.

Traditional car waxes and paint sealants will wear off under normal use circumstances or via normal wear-n-tear such as careful washing. So in the context of and in comparison with traditional car waxes and paint sealants, paint coatings are permanent.

Examples of premium quality car waxes and paint sealants can be found here,

Two new coatings now available at Autopia-CarCare.net are,

Optimum Polymer Technologies

CarPro Innovative Nano Coats