How can PPF self heal if it’s ceramic coated?

AlexFL · 03-30-2020, 11:17 PM

Some people do ceramic coating on top of their XPEL ppf wrap. Is ppf still capable to self heal, despite the ceramic coating on top? And don’t the scratches remain visible on the ceramic coating itself? Thanks in advance!

heavyD^2 · 03-31-2020, 07:37 AM

Well there are self-healing ceramic coatings now as well as coatings specifically made to bond with PPF. If you have a coating on top of ppf and the coating gets scratched I doubt the self healing properties of the PPF film would come into play.

Humdizzle · 04-07-2020, 03:17 AM

go do some more reading.

Ceramics will resist scratches to a degree. It will help prevent normal washing swirls, but not a key running across your paint. They will not protect you from a rock chip like a PPF will. They usually do not last more than 2-3 years.

PPF is by far the superior protection. But it also costs 3-4k to have it done right. It will still self heal with a ceramic coating on top. The ppf heals by heat.

you can do ceramic on top of ppf with no issues. it will help protect against UV damage with can yellow ppf over time. and make the car easier to clean.

AlexFL · 04-07-2020, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

go do some more reading.

Ceramics will resist scratches to a degree. It will help prevent normal washing swirls, but not a key running across your paint. They will not protect you from a rock chip like a PPF will. They usually do not last more than 2-3 years.

PPF is by far the superior protection. But it also costs 3-4k to have it done right. It will still self heal with a ceramic coating on top. The ppf heals by heat.

you can do ceramic on top of ppf with no issues. it will help protect against UV damage with can yellow ppf over time. and make the car easier to clean.

Try to read my question slowly and maybe you will then understand the question. I am NOT asking to compare ceramic coating with PPF. I am merely asking whether putting ceramic coating ON TOP of PPF will essentially delete the self healing properties of PPF. Thank you very much in advance.

RM7 · 04-07-2020, 09:16 AM

Marketing BS.

MrSmartyPants · 04-07-2020, 10:46 AM

Ceramic coating is so thin (microns) when layered on top of the PPF (millimeters). It's not going to change the bulk properties of the PPF. If it's scratched or dented it'll still self heal. It's not like the ceramic coating creates some hard "egg shell" on top of the PPF. The biggest advantage, IMO, is the hydrophobic properties on top of the PPF for cleaning.

gosi · 04-07-2020, 11:08 AM

I think @JamesNoBrakes is right. No one here really knows anything, aside from maybe a materials expert. The rest are just talking marketing nonsense out of their arse.

heavyD^2 · 04-07-2020, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gosi

I think @JamesNoBrakes is right. No one here really knows anything, aside from maybe a materials expert. The rest are just talking marketing nonsense out of their arse.

What do you mean? I have self healing ppf and can confirm it works. I had to use a heat gun (it doesn't get warm enough in the winter hear for sunlight healing) to remove a few light scratches and they did disappear. I do think a consumer needs to have realistic expectations as deep scratches into the film will not heal but the swirls and light scratches indeed heal with the application of heat. I don't have any experience with the latest self healing ceramics but I intend to try them soon.

Mingwan · 04-08-2020, 10:06 PM

Yes, PPF will still heal even with a ceramic coating placed on top of it. In fact, doing this isn't out of the ordinary, and is in fact common practice. PPF's don't seem to repel water as well as ceramic coatings do. You put the ceramic coating on to get an enhanced look, and ease of cleaning.

Technically, yeah, if your car gets scratched from some debris it'll be visible in the ceramic coating if you're actively looking for it, but that's typically an easy fix.

03-30-2020, 11:17 PM	#1
AlexFL Brigadier General 7956 Rep 4,619 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	How can PPF self heal if it’s ceramic coated? Some people do ceramic coating on top of their XPEL ppf wrap. Is ppf still capable to self heal, despite the ceramic coating on top? And don’t the scratches remain visible on the ceramic coating itself? Thanks in advance!
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03-31-2020, 07:37 AM	#2
heavyD^2 Colonel 3723 Rep 2,987 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Too close to Santa iTrader: (0)	Well there are self-healing ceramic coatings now as well as coatings specifically made to bond with PPF. If you have a coating on top of ppf and the coating gets scratched I doubt the self healing properties of the PPF film would come into play.
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04-07-2020, 03:17 AM	#3
Humdizzle Brigadier General 6517 Rep 3,847 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	go do some more reading. Ceramics will resist scratches to a degree. It will help prevent normal washing swirls, but not a key running across your paint. They will not protect you from a rock chip like a PPF will. They usually do not last more than 2-3 years. PPF is by far the superior protection. But it also costs 3-4k to have it done right. It will still self heal with a ceramic coating on top. The ppf heals by heat. you can do ceramic on top of ppf with no issues. it will help protect against UV damage with can yellow ppf over time. and make the car easier to clean. __________________ 2018 Porsche GT3 6MT Previous: Ferrari 458 \| R35 GTR \| F80 M3 \| F87 M2c \| E46 M3 \| E36 M3 \| Scion FRS
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04-07-2020, 09:16 AM	#5
RM7 Brigadier General 3021 Rep 3,627 Posts Drives: Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	Marketing BS. __________________ Current: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE, 2023 Colorado ZR2. Former: BMW 428i Gran Coupe.
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04-07-2020, 10:46 AM	#6
MrSmartyPants Lieutenant 357 Rep 500 Posts Drives: F80 M3 - 6MT_MW on SO Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	Ceramic coating is so thin (microns) when layered on top of the PPF (millimeters). It's not going to change the bulk properties of the PPF. If it's scratched or dented it'll still self heal. It's not like the ceramic coating creates some hard "egg shell" on top of the PPF. The biggest advantage, IMO, is the hydrophobic properties on top of the PPF for cleaning. __________________ Insta @m3_emmy
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04-07-2020, 11:08 AM	#7
gosi Private First Class 94 Rep 147 Posts Drives: M240 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Slovenia iTrader: (0)	I think @JamesNoBrakes is right. No one here really knows anything, aside from maybe a materials expert. The rest are just talking marketing nonsense out of their arse.
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04-08-2020, 10:06 PM	#9
Mingwan Major 1888 Rep 1,340 Posts Drives: X1 Individual custom paint Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	Yes, PPF will still heal even with a ceramic coating placed on top of it. In fact, doing this isn't out of the ordinary, and is in fact common practice. PPF's don't seem to repel water as well as ceramic coatings do. You put the ceramic coating on to get an enhanced look, and ease of cleaning. Technically, yeah, if your car gets scratched from some debris it'll be visible in the ceramic coating if you're actively looking for it, but that's typically an easy fix.
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