Difference between a sealant and wax.

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Polymer and Carnauba differences:



a) Polymer sealant- comprises an open linked molecule; these open linked polymer molecules join together to create an elongated mesh like effect that reflects light efficiently due to their inherent flat surface. Because they are usually very transparent they transmit the surface colour faithfully, but they have very little depth resulting in what is perceived as a very bright, flat silver glow.



b) Carnauba wax- molecules are closed linked, which means that they only butt up together to protect the surface. These wax molecules form an egg-grate type (with the long axis vertical) mesh over the smaller paint molecules of the paint film surface, which gives it an optical depth.

Carnauba Wax melts at 180oF and evaporates / erodes over time (dependant upon ambient temperatures and climatic conditions) which limits its durability.



In actual practice higher temperatures frequently leads to melting of the wax compounds. For example, painted surfaces exposed to ambient temperatures of 85oF in direct sunlight, will rise up to a temperature of 195 degrees or more



Note: Carnauba wax will bond to a polymer (once it has cross-linked) conversely if a polymer is applied on top of a Carnauba wax it will not bond due to its oil content



JonM

Jon, long time no see, i was hoping you would clarify !!

 

[White95Max]

Thanks for rubbing it in. I won't see 70s for months.

 

[DETAILKING]

Polymer and Carnauba differences:



a) Polymer sealant- comprises an open linked molecule; these open linked polymer molecules join together to create an elongated mesh like effect that reflects light efficiently due to their inherent flat surface. Because they are usually very transparent they transmit the surface colour faithfully, but they have very little depth resulting in what is perceived as a very bright, flat silver glow.



b) Carnauba wax- molecules are closed linked, which means that they only butt up together to protect the surface. These wax molecules form an egg-grate type (with the long axis vertical) mesh over the smaller paint molecules of the paint film surface, which gives it an optical depth.

Carnauba Wax melts at 180oF and evaporates / erodes over time (dependant upon ambient temperatures and climatic conditions) which limits its durability.



In actual practice higher temperatures frequently leads to melting of the wax compounds. For example, painted surfaces exposed to ambient temperatures of 85oF in direct sunlight, will rise up to a temperature of 195 degrees or more



Note: Carnauba wax will bond to a polymer (once it has cross-linked) conversely if a polymer is applied on top of a Carnauba wax it will not bond due to its oil content



JonM

The fact is carnuba wax in itself offers little to no shine or depth. what are you seeing is created from the oils. Carnuba wax by itself is pretty dull. With a carnuba wax or any wax product, there is no crosslinking going on.....all you are seeing is the wax changing state from a liquid (in the bottle) to a solid (on your car). The two ways to liquify a wax are to either expose it to high temperatures, or emulsify it in a solvent. Typically the more durable carnuba products contain either bees wax, pariffin wax, or polyethylene wax to aid in water beading, and those are usually the weak link in the system when it comes to heat breakdown.



hope this helps

 

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Vasty, it cracks me up everytime someone says they just waxed there car and its so much better looking....

 

[togwt]

The fact is carnuba wax in itself offers little to no shine or depth. what are you seeing is created from the oils. Carnuba wax by itself is pretty dull. With a carnuba wax or any wax product, there is no crosslinking going on.....all you are seeing is the wax changing state from a liquid (in the bottle) to a solid (on your car). The two ways to liquify a wax are to either expose it to high temperatures, or emulsify it in a solvent. Typically the more durable carnuba products contain either bees wax, pariffin wax, or polyethylene wax to aid in water beading, and those are usually the weak link in the system when it comes to heat breakdown.



hope this helps



No argument on the oils providing the gloss as opposed to the wax.

I was not suggesting that Carnauba wax goes through a cross-linking process Initially a Carnauba wax attaches itself by surface tension, after they have cured the carrier system (solvents) attach themselves to the microscopic caps in the paint surface forming a physical bond.



âہ“Note: Carnauba wax will bond to a polymer (once it has cross-linked) conversely if a polymer is applied on top of a Carnauba wax it will not bond due to its oil contentâ€Â�



Perhaps I should have stated it betterâ€Â¦Carnauba wax will bond to [a cross-linked polymer] converselyâ€Â¦



JonM

 

[DETAILKING]

I was not suggesting that Carnauba wax goes through a cross-linking process Initially a Carnauba wax attaches itself by surface tension, after they have cured the carrier system (solvents) attach themselves to the microscopic caps in the paint surface forming a physical bond.



âہ“Note: Carnauba wax will bond to a polymer (once it has cross-linked) conversely if a polymer is applied on top of a Carnauba wax it will not bond due to its oil contentâ€Â�



[a cross-linked polymer] converselyâ€Â¦



JonM

Be careful it's easy to mix the terms up.



Surface tension is a term used for liquids not solids....



think of carnuba wax on the surface of the car just like pouring hot candle wax on the car and allowing it to dry. It just kind of rests on the surface. I agree that any "roughness" in the paint will increase durability and give the wax a better BITE, which is why most of the more durable carnuba waxes contain abrasives. there is no other way.....



There really is no "bond" per say with a wax system

 

[togwt]

Be careful it's easy to mix the terms up.



Surface tension is a term used for liquids not solids....



think of carnuba wax on the surface of the car just like pouring hot candle wax on the car and allowing it to dry. It just kind of rests on the surface. I agree that any "roughness" in the paint will increase durability and give the wax a better BITE, which is why most of the more durable carnuba waxes contain abrasives. there is no other way.....



There really is no "bond" per say with a wax system

We will have to agree to disagree on the way wax or it's liquid carrier system attaches/bonds to a surface.



JonM