The Science Of Slippery Surfaces

Ceramic Coated Vehicles vs Non-Ceramic Coated

We talk a lot about “hydrophobic properties” and “surface tension,” but sometimes a Northern Indiana winter does the explaining for us.

We recently had a “lightbulb moment” in the shop parking lot. We were jockeying vehicles around after a fresh snowfall and noticed a striking contrast between two cars sitting side-by-side.

The Contenders:

1. The Shop Car (Lexus IS): This is our testing ground. The hood is currently divided into three zones, torture-testing and comparing three heavyweight coatings:
   • IGL Ecocoat Quartz (2-Year, 2-Layer)
   • IGL Arcane (4-Year, Single Layer)
   • CCI Revolution (6-7+ Year, Single Layer)
2. The Customer Car (GM): A well-maintained vehicle, but with one major disadvantage: zero ceramic protection.

The Result:

The photos tell the story. On the Lexus, there is zero snow accumulation. As the flakes hit the surface, the lack of friction causes them to slide right off, leaving nothing behind but tight water beads. On the GM? The snow found “purchase,” gripped the clear coat, and began to accumulate.

The Real-World Win:

While watching snow slide off a hood is satisfying, the practical benefit is what happens the rest of the year. Ceramic coatings make it harder for things to stick to the coated surface.

A ceramic-coated vehicle doesn’t just look incredible; it’s ridiculously easier to maintain too.