Are ceramic coatings nano?
Quick answer: Yes, ceramic coatings are based on nanotechnology. They use molecules that bond at the nanoscale to form an ultra-thin, hard, hydrophobic layer on your paint. “Nano” is largely industry shorthand.
Ceramic coatings are nano, but not always in the way the marketing suggests. Nanotechnology simply means working at the scale of 1–100 nanometres (nm). A nanometre is one-billionth of a metre; put another way, a human hair is roughly 70,000–100,000 nm thick. In proper nano-ceramic coatings, the active particles (usually SiO₂, sometimes with TiO₂ or other additives) are engineered in that nano range so they can cross-link densely and bond to the clear coat.
So what size are we talking? In professional coatings, ceramic particles are typically ~20–100 nm. The cured layer you end up with on the car isn’t “nano-thick” — it’s usually around 0.5–2 microns (500–2,000 nm). That sounds thin because it is, but the magic is in the structure: tightly packed nanoscale particles forming a hard, chemically resistant network that boosts gloss, slickness and hydrophobic behaviour, and adds UV and chemical resistance.
Along with 'glass-coating', 'ceramic' and 'graphene', 'Nano' has become a buzzword. They can be deceptively thrown on the labels of a whole host of products. The chemical industry which includes car care product and cosmetics are notorious for doing this. Experience has taught us to move past what a product is called, ask what it actually does.
So worth noting: not every bottle with “nano” on the label is the same thing. Many retail “ceramic” sprays are really SiO₂-infused sealants. They can bead water nicely, but they don’t form the same dense nano network or long-term bond, so durability is measured in weeks or months, not years. A professionally applied coating, on properly polished and decontaminated paint, gives you that true nano structure and the longevity people expect.
In short, “nano” refers to the particle size and chemistry, not hype. The right product, applied the right way, give benefits that are real and long-lasting.
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 26/09/2025 16:55