Does a Ceramic Coating for Cars Stop Rock Chips?
When you’re driving on highways or rough roads, rock chips are a common annoyance. As an auto enthusiast, you probably want your car looking as pristine as possible. So, you might be asking: “Does a ceramic coating for cars stop rock chips?” For SiO2 based ceramic coatings, the answer is: “No.” However, with the innovation of silicone powder in a nanotechnology, the answer is: “Yes!” What changed?…technology.
Understanding Traditional SiO2 Based Ceramic Coatings and Rock Chips
Traditional SiO2-based coatings, are primarily designed to protect your car’s paint from minor scratches, dirt, UV rays, and chemical stains. They create a hard, glass-like layer on top of the paint, which enhances gloss and makes the surface hydrophobic—meaning water and dirt slide right off. This keeps your car looking shiny and makes cleaning easier. However, when it comes to rock chips, these coatings have limitations.
While ceramic coatings do provide a sacrificial layer that absorbs minor abrasions, they are not thick or flexible enough to absorb the high-impact force from rocks or debris. The ceramic layer can reduce the visibility of small chips, but it won’t completely prevent them from occurring if the impact is significant enough.
Revivify’s Self-Healing Ceramic Coating: A Better Option
At Dripping Auto Pros, we offer Revivify’s Self-Healing Ceramic Coatings, which is where the innovation in ceramic coating technology has evolved. This car ceramic coating has a unique self-healing property that allows it to repair itself from minor scratches and chips by using heat, such as sunlight or warm water, to “heal” small surface imperfections.
Although Revivify’s CarbonX coating can provide better protection against rock chips compared to traditional ceramic coatings, it is not Paint Protection Film (PPF).
PPF is much thicker and designed specifically to absorb impacts, making it the gold standard for rock chip protection. However, Revivify’s self-healing car coatings offer a significant advantage in terms of cost—about half the price of PPF—while still providing a great level of protection.
By using multiple layers of this amazing coating, you will get up to 30 microns of front line protection. FYI, 30 microns is equivalent to many clear coats. In such an application, you effectively double your base color coat protection.
This car coating is road tested in thousands of vehicles worldwide, and here in Texas we have an application of Revivify’s CarbonX on a black Mustang GT that regularly runs on the track at COTA (Circuit of the Americas) and after one year, there is no evidence of pitting or chipping. (It’s the car in the video above.)
Self-Healing Ceramic Car Coating vs. PPF: Making the Right Choice
PPF is a durable, flexible layer applied over your vehicle’s paint to protect it from rock chips, scratches, and other forms of impact damage. Unlike SiO2 based ceramic coatings, PPF is designed to be thick and absorbent, allowing it to take the brunt of impacts and prevent damage to the paint beneath. This makes PPF the top choice for those who drive frequently on gravel roads or highways or the track.
However, PPF comes at a higher cost and may not provide the same level of gloss or hydrophobic properties as ceramic coatings. If you’re looking for a balance between cost and protection, the Revivify CarbonX Self Healing Ceramic Coating is a great alternative. It offers many benefits, such as a high-gloss finish, UV protection, chemical resistance, and water repellency, along with protection against rock chips.
The Benefits of Ceramic Coatings Beyond Rock Chips
While our self healing ceramic coatings might not stop every rock chip, it provides many other benefits that make it a worthwhile investment:
- Hydrophobic Properties: Our self-healing coatings create a water-repellent layer that prevents water, mud, and other contaminants from adhering to the paint. This means less dirt and grime buildup, making it easier to keep your car clean.
- UV Protection: Over time, the sun’s UV rays can cause your car’s paint to fade and oxidize. Our self healing coatings provide 100% UV protection, thereby preventing UV oxidation and maintaining the vibrant color of your paint.
- Chemical Resistance: Our CarbonX self healing ceramic coatings provides a significant barrier against chemical contaminants like bird droppings, tree sap, and bug splatter, which can etch into the paint and cause permanent damage. This coating contains graphene and carbon that resists these chemicals, keeping your vehicle’s paint protected and extending its lifespan.
- Enhanced Appearance: One of the standout features of Revivify’s self healing ceramic coatings is the superior gloss they provide vs. traditional SiO2 based ceramic coatings. The coating gives your car a deep, shiny appearance that can last for years, making it look new and well-maintained.
- Longevity: Unlike traditional waxes and sealants that require frequent reapplication, our self-healing ceramic coating has superior adhesion than SiO2 based ceramic coatings, which means it lasts longer when properly maintained. This long-lasting protection saves you time and effort in keeping your vehicle in pristine condition.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Ceramic Coatings
To get the most out of your ceramic coating, it’s important to understand its limitations and take proper care of it. Here are some tips:
- Regular Maintenance: Even though ceramic coatings make cleaning easier, regular washing is still essential to remove contaminants that could degrade the coating over time. Use either the two-bucket wash or spray bottle method and a pH-neutral car shampoo along with a high grade drying microfiber towel to prevent micro-scratches.
- Avoid Automatic Car Washes: Soap used in these car washes is high pH and can damage coatings. Additionally, the brushes used in many automatic car washes can scratch the coating, reducing its effectiveness. Hand washing is the best way to maintain the coating’s integrity. With that said, our self-healing car coating can withstand an occasional car wash.
- Use Gentle Cleaning Products: Harsh cleaners or abrasive materials can damage the ceramic layer. Stick to products specifically designed for ceramic-coated vehicles that are provided by Dripping Auto Pros.
- Be Mindful of the Curing Process: It takes about 7 days for a ceramic coating to reach 100% chemical bond with the clear coat. During that time it’s best not to wash it, except with the products provided in your care kit from Dripping Auto Pros.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Paint Protection for Your Car
If your primary concern is rock chips, and you are prepared to invest in the best protection, PPF is the ideal choice. However, if you want a more affordable option that still offers great overall protection and a glossy finish, Revivify’s Self-Healing CarbonX Ceramic Coating provides a balanced solution.
At Dripping Auto Pros, we’re here to help you choose the right protection for your vehicle. Whether it’s our self-healing ceramic coating, PPF, or a combination of both, we’ve got you covered. Stop by and let’s discuss the best way to keep your car looking its best, no matter where the road takes you.
