Definitions
This page exists to clarify the terms commonly used when discussing car paint protection, exterior detailing, and ceramic coatings. Much of the confusion around paint protection comes not from the products themselves, but from inconsistent language - the same term can mean different things depending on who is using it, or be used loosely in marketing without clear explanation. These definitions are provided in the context of how we carry out professional exterior detailing, apply ceramic coatings, and select products for real-world use, so that questions about protection, preparation, durability, and maintenance can be understood accurately rather than assumed. The aim is to give you a shared vocabulary before making decisions about products or services.
- Car Paint Protection
- Car Wax
- Sealant
- Ceramic Coating
- Top-Up Product
- Graphene Coating
- Diamond Coating
- Glaze
- Ceramic Coating Service
- Professional Ceramic Coating
- Retail Ceramic Coating
- Paintwork
- Carnauba
- Sacrificial Barrier
- Semi-Permanent Coating
- Durability
- Accredited Agent/Outlet
- Underseal
- High spot (ceramic coating)
- Contact Angle
- Hydrophobic vs hydrophilic
- SiO₂ (silicon dioxide)
- Surface Energy
- Cross-linking
- Clear coat
- UV Inhibition
- 9H (Pencil Hardness)
- Beading vs Sheeting
- Flash Time / Open Time
- Levelling (Two-Towel Method)
- High Spots / Low Spots
- Rainbowing / Smear
- Layering / Multiple Coats
- Cure Time
- Raking Light
- Decontamination
- Clay Bar / Claying
- Panel Wipe / IPA Wipe
- Compound vs Polish
- Polymer Coating / Sealant
- Top-up / Topper / Booster
- Ceramic Wax / Spray Sealant
- Quick Detailer (QD)
- Non-stick / PTFE claims
- Transport Wax
- Aqua-Wax / Wash ’n’ Wax / Dry-wash / Show shine
- Paint Protection Film (PPF)
- pH-Neutral Shampoo
- Traffic Film Remover (TFR)
- Tar Remover
- Vinegar (Acetic Acid)
- Automated Brush Wash vs Touchless
- Pressure Washer Use
- Chamois vs Microfibre Drying
- Water Spots / Mineral Deposits
- Repaint / Respray Waiting Period
- Touch-Ins Over Coatings
- Coating Repair / Rework
- Microfibre Cloth
- Glass Coating
- Diamond Coating
- 9H Hardness = Scratch-Proof
- Ceramic Fills Scratches
- Matrix Black
- Helios Shield
- Gtechniq
- Supagard
- Diamondbrite
- Toughguard
- Synthetic Wax (Polymer Sealant)
- Autoglym Super Resin Polish
- Turtle Wax
- Silicone / siloxanes (vs silica)
- Self-Healing Coatings