A change in surface free energy alone is never a reliable indication of coating failure.

Hydrophobic ‘failure’ could easily happen by smearing olive oil or a finish polish over a coated section. Whatever residue remained after wiping the surface would alter the water behavior of that coated section.

Therefore, this example only indicates that surface energy has shifted away from the ideal characteristics of the coating to the properties of the left over polish. This does not automatically mean coating failure, but rather its hydrophobic properties are masked by whatever was put on top of it. In this case, a finish polish.

Often, vehicle owners or detailers form snap judgements or conclusions about ceramic coating effectiveness or durability based on hydrophobic properties.

Frequently these opinions are without a true or full understanding of the principals behind vehicle surface energy. This type of uninformed dialogue floods literally hundreds of online forums and social media groups, many times marketing related.

Therefore, let’s set the record straight:

Hydrophobics, or Water Behavior, alone do not provide an accurate picture of automotive ceramic nano coatings and their overall protection characteristics.

Hydrophobics are one aspect in the overall protection offered by ceramic coatings.

When a coating ‘fails,’ to produce water beading or sheeting, most times topical surface contamination is the culprit. Contamination generally builds up from surface neglect.

When vehicle surfaces are NOT cleaned regularly, contamination layers form, and build on one another, like a brick wall over time. Eventually they build up to completely cover the coating’s surface. When this happens the hydrophobic properties of the vehicle surface adapt the contamination because it is the outer layer interacting with the environemnt.

This is why the understanding how surface energy affects hydrophobic characteristics, and how to maintain them through proper washing intervals, is critical to ceramic coating surface performance and longevity.