Waxes and sealants

Although somewhat more complex than the other products discussed already, waxes and sealants also involve just basic chemistry.

When a formulator designs a wax or sealant, he will take several factors into account, including the ease of application and removal desired, cleaning ability (if required), depth of gloss or shine, durability and resistance to soaps. Unfortunately, no one wax or sealant product can meet all of the above characteristics. If one is emphasized and enhanced, it will be to the detriment of another. For example, increased durability means that application and removal can be more difficult. Or, if cleaning capability is emphasized, the depth of shine will be less.

The best wax or sealant to use is one that provides as many of the characteristics as possible to achieve a shiny, durable finish. The basic components used in waxes and sealants are:

Water

Solvents - to act as a solubilizer for the other ingredients. Depending on the type of solvent used, you will determine the product's drying time.

Wax - to produce gloss, fill small imperfections and provide protection. There are several types of waxes: carnauba, extracted from the Brazilian palm tree; synthetic carnauba (micro-crystalline); beeswax and wax derived from German coal called Montan.

Silicones - to increase depth of shine. All paint sealants, and some waxes, will use amino-functional silicones that provide a bonding action of the sealant to the paint. Typically, a wax will use only a standard silicone fluid which is not as durable as amino-functional silicones.

Emulsifiers - to stabilize the product and make it easier to use.

Very-light abrasives - to provide mild cleaning and to aid the wax in drying consistently for easy wipe-off.

Surfactant
Coloring
Fragrance

Waxes typically come in the following forms: Hard paste (no water); pre-softened paste; cream and liquid. These forms are arrived at by a simple adjustment of the raw materials. No magic, just basic chemistry to achieve a desired result. Which form you use is a matter of preference.

Sealants typically are formulated either as a liquid or a créme and differ in durability depending on the amount of and type of silicones used. Then there are Teflon sealants. If you believe Du Pont, inventors of Teflon and owner of the trademark, you'll find that Teflon in no way enhances the durability or shine of an automotive wax or sealant. That's a fact. So what is all the hype about waxes and sealants with Teflon that are guaranteed for three to five years? As we stated in the beginning of this article, it's only marketing razzle-dazzle.