What is the Difference Between Coating and Crystal Coating?

[Theodore]

The differences between coating and crystal coating are: 1. Different working hours required: Coating takes about 3 hours, while crystal coating takes about 5 hours. 2. Different raw material compositions: Coating is made of glass cellulose, silicon polymers, fluorine polymers, and high-purity water non-petroleum environmentally friendly materials; crystal coating consists of a dense and stable high-molecular inorganic substance. 3. Different durability periods: Coating can last about half a year to one year, while crystal coating can last about 3 years. The methods for car crystal coating and regular coating are: 1. Use a clay bar to remove contaminants from the car paint surface. 2. Apply the material evenly on the car paint surface using a sponge. 3. After drying, wipe off excess material with a special towel.

[StLyla]

When it comes to car paint maintenance, there's actually quite a difference between these two. Paint coating is like applying a premium lotion to your car—it mainly uses liquid polymers to fill in minor scratches, giving your car a temporary shine. Ceramic coating, on the other hand, is way more hardcore. My neighbor Lao Zhang had it done last time, and the process took a full three hours! The technician said they use a liquid containing silicon dioxide that crystallizes into a glass-like layer. Now, his car doors can resist key scratches. However, the price difference is significant too. A basic coating costs a few hundred, while ceramic coating won’t come cheap—it’s at least 2,000 RMB. If you’ve just bought a new car, ceramic coating might be worth trying. For a car that’s a few years old, a paint coating is a more budget-friendly option.

[SanRosalie]

Once, I visited a friend's car detailing shop and found his demonstration of ceramic coating quite interesting. The solution applied to the hood turned white like frost, and under the heat lamp, it formed a glass-like protective layer with hardness reaching the level of a 9H pencil. On the other hand, paint sealant is more like applying a reinforced wax, using a specially formulated liquid to fill in the paint pores, but it can be scratched even by a fingernail. The key is your needs: if you want protection against scratches from car wash towels, paint sealant is sufficient; if you frequently drive on highways and fear stone chips, then ceramic coating is the way to go. My friend mentioned there are now combined solutions of ceramic coating and paint protection film (PPF), but the price is enough for three regular maintenance services.

[Devin]

Simply put: Coating is short-term protection, similar to applying a soft film on a phone; crystal coating is a permanent upgrade, equivalent to sapphire coating for the screen. I've personally seen the process: crystal coating requires using a polishing machine to press the solution into the car paint, and under sunlight, you can see the rainbow-patterned crystal layer. The most noticeable difference is water repellency—water beads roll off quickly with crystal coating, while they spread into sheets with regular coating. However, after crystal coating, you must avoid water contact for three days. Last time I did it on a rainy day, and it was a waste of money.