Someone on AG was nice enough to write up a good post on the difference in quality between something like TW SNS compared to Cquartz UK or IGL. Many on here probably already know this. I did to some level, but not from the chemistry side. It's what one would expect.
"In terms of compounding and not needing to compound, a chemical break down of the item in comparison might give some hints and be revealing.
Turtle Wax Hybrid Spray Coating uses IPA as the only solvent in the product.
By comparison, Reload has two different kinds of siloxane, naptha, methanol, benzyl benzoate, 1-2-4 Trimethylbenzene, as well as Orange Oil.
Meguiar's Ceramic Spray Wax uses ethoxylated C12-16 Alcohols, which is used as an emulsion for water and an oily substance to combine them together effectively.
Compared to Cquartz UK, it's main solvents are Nonane, naptha, methanol and Trimethylbenzen and it contains multiple forms of organic siloxane.
Compare that to GTechniq Crystal Serum (Pro version) It uses a proprietery hydrotreated light distillate, which is essentially a petroleum distillate as the solvent in it. Does a similar job to the methanol, naptha, nonane, methanol and trimethylbenzene as Cquartz UK. All very strong solvents, hence the jet fuel smell when you open the bottle.
In comparison to two similar products as well as two true coatings, Turtle Wax Hybrid Spray Coating does not contain a high enough percentage of ceramic anything.
To give an example of a more "green" and "solvent free" product, IGL Kenzo contains smoothing agents at the very least in the form of Triethoxy-n-octylsilane and 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as a bonding agent.
The Hybrid Spray Coating, judging by it's chemical solvents, lacks anything that is used as a bonding agent for true ceramic (whether SiO2 or SiC) coverage. It is most likely, made up of very strong polymers with a small amount of SiO2 that relies on the polymer of choice to crosslink and bond to the paint itself. This is kind of revealed to be most likely as they state that two applications will leave you a longer period of protection. That is only likely if no strong solvents are involved. Essentially, they are using a kind of polymer that does not require a smoothing agent or a bonding agent directly to bond onto paint, especially by their choice of carrier solvent as IPA.
In comparison to their ICE Spray Wax, it's water, Polydimethylsiloxane and Carnauba in emulsion form (already mixed with smoothing agents and solvents).
For seal and shine, they use polydimethylsiloxane and aocohol ethoxylates as the solvent/smoothing agent.
Biggest difference between "spray coatings" and "true coatings" is actually the liquid bonding agent and carrier solvent. The bonding agent and carrier solvent needs to be strong enough to hold whatever protection agent they use soluble such as SiO2, SiC, PDMS, whatever, all mixed together. And they need to in the liquid form, enable the protection agent to bond onto the paint as well as completely evaporate into the air at the same time. Very expensive mixtures. The cost that you're really paying for isn't the SiO2. SiO2 is cheap, if you were to take let's say Cquartz finest, the TiO and the SiO2 is probably like.. 10 percent of the actual cost. The rest of it is the bonding agent and carrier agent (Solvent). It's why the "true coatings" will always be more expensive than the spray coatings. Also why spray coatings don't last as long. To make a spray coating last for 2 or 3 years, well, imagine paying 200-300 dollars for CanCoat."
Chemically, the two are different in the sense (it seems from the chemicals used) that the polymers in Ceramic Spray Coating has a very low percentage of actual ceramic molecules involved, and needs a curing time due to the crosslinking effects of those polymers.
Seal N Shine has a strong solvent that deposits the PDMS onto the surface. PDMS doesn't really require curing time, it's just on or not.
Judging from that, I wouldn't call this a coating at all but a very economical but effective sealant.
"In terms of compounding and not needing to compound, a chemical break down of the item in comparison might give some hints and be revealing.
Turtle Wax Hybrid Spray Coating uses IPA as the only solvent in the product.
By comparison, Reload has two different kinds of siloxane, naptha, methanol, benzyl benzoate, 1-2-4 Trimethylbenzene, as well as Orange Oil.
Meguiar's Ceramic Spray Wax uses ethoxylated C12-16 Alcohols, which is used as an emulsion for water and an oily substance to combine them together effectively.
Compared to Cquartz UK, it's main solvents are Nonane, naptha, methanol and Trimethylbenzen and it contains multiple forms of organic siloxane.
Compare that to GTechniq Crystal Serum (Pro version) It uses a proprietery hydrotreated light distillate, which is essentially a petroleum distillate as the solvent in it. Does a similar job to the methanol, naptha, nonane, methanol and trimethylbenzene as Cquartz UK. All very strong solvents, hence the jet fuel smell when you open the bottle.
In comparison to two similar products as well as two true coatings, Turtle Wax Hybrid Spray Coating does not contain a high enough percentage of ceramic anything.
To give an example of a more "green" and "solvent free" product, IGL Kenzo contains smoothing agents at the very least in the form of Triethoxy-n-octylsilane and 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as a bonding agent.
The Hybrid Spray Coating, judging by it's chemical solvents, lacks anything that is used as a bonding agent for true ceramic (whether SiO2 or SiC) coverage. It is most likely, made up of very strong polymers with a small amount of SiO2 that relies on the polymer of choice to crosslink and bond to the paint itself. This is kind of revealed to be most likely as they state that two applications will leave you a longer period of protection. That is only likely if no strong solvents are involved. Essentially, they are using a kind of polymer that does not require a smoothing agent or a bonding agent directly to bond onto paint, especially by their choice of carrier solvent as IPA.
In comparison to their ICE Spray Wax, it's water, Polydimethylsiloxane and Carnauba in emulsion form (already mixed with smoothing agents and solvents).
For seal and shine, they use polydimethylsiloxane and aocohol ethoxylates as the solvent/smoothing agent.
Biggest difference between "spray coatings" and "true coatings" is actually the liquid bonding agent and carrier solvent. The bonding agent and carrier solvent needs to be strong enough to hold whatever protection agent they use soluble such as SiO2, SiC, PDMS, whatever, all mixed together. And they need to in the liquid form, enable the protection agent to bond onto the paint as well as completely evaporate into the air at the same time. Very expensive mixtures. The cost that you're really paying for isn't the SiO2. SiO2 is cheap, if you were to take let's say Cquartz finest, the TiO and the SiO2 is probably like.. 10 percent of the actual cost. The rest of it is the bonding agent and carrier agent (Solvent). It's why the "true coatings" will always be more expensive than the spray coatings. Also why spray coatings don't last as long. To make a spray coating last for 2 or 3 years, well, imagine paying 200-300 dollars for CanCoat."
Chemically, the two are different in the sense (it seems from the chemicals used) that the polymers in Ceramic Spray Coating has a very low percentage of actual ceramic molecules involved, and needs a curing time due to the crosslinking effects of those polymers.
Seal N Shine has a strong solvent that deposits the PDMS onto the surface. PDMS doesn't really require curing time, it's just on or not.
Judging from that, I wouldn't call this a coating at all but a very economical but effective sealant.
