An expert’s guide to graphene
In the ever-evolving world of car care products, Mint Eco takes pride in staying at the forefront of innovation. We're excited to introduce you to a revolutionary addition to our chemistry lineup: Graphene. This cutting-edge material is transforming the car wash industry, providing a higher level of protection than ever before. Join us as we delve into the world of Graphene, its unique properties, and how it enhances our commitment to delivering top-notch quality to our customers.
Table of Contents:
The Evolution of Car Care Chemistry
The Discovery of Graphene
Graphene in Car Chemistry
Key Benefits of Graphene
The Evolution of Car Care Chemistry
To understand the significance of Graphene entering the marketplace, let's trace the journey from historical products in car care to the present-day innovations our Members and Guests now enjoy. The first generation of surface protectants was made from animal fats in 1800 in Bischofsheim, Germany, to coat the paint of horse-drawn carriages. This waxed coating protected the paint and added a shine to the finish but was not very popular because it smelled bad and attracted flies.
From there, the industry evolved to use natural waxes such as beeswax or carnauba for coating vehicles with a layer of protection adding a shine to the finish. Today, waxes used are usually a blend of carnauba wax, beeswax, natural oils, and sometimes petroleum distillates. Newer formulations may also contain polymers and resins to harden the wax and enhance its shine. Rain-X is an example of a widely popular compound that is a polymer base and promotes heavy water beading on a vehicle’s exterior.
The Discovery of Graphene:
Graphene is a compound that was discovered accidentally by chemists in Manchester, England. It is a material made of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice and is the thinnest object ever created. Although scientists knew Graphene existed, they didn't know how to extract it from graphite until 2004. Its unique molecular structure makes it 200 times stronger than steel, yet it stretches 100 times longer than its normal length. It dissipates heat, transmits electricity well, and because of this, is quickly becoming a key component in various industries from automotive to electronics.
Graphene in Car Chemistry:
In the car wash industry, Graphene is being integrated into Ceramic formulas to create a more durable layer of protection for your vehicle. Its honeycomb structure makes it ideal as a surface hardener and protectant in car washing. It is also extremely hydrophobic and anti-static, encouraging high levels of water beading and high resistance to other materials that try to bond to the vehicle such as dust and pollen.
Unlike Rain-X and Ceramic, Graphene doesn't crosslink with other compounds on the vehicle, but its remarkable properties enhance the overall effectiveness of the product especially when combined with other chemistry in a layered effect.
Graphene effectively adds an extra, super-strength layer of defense to your car's surface at the nano-molecular level. The chart below illustrates the goal of having layered chemistry in the car wash process—multiple layers of defense and protection between the Environment and the vehicle’s clear coat.
What is looks like at the molecular level when layering car wash chemistry together to form a protective film.
Key Benefits of Graphene:
Graphene has a long list of properties that have made it attractive to be used across different industries, but these are the properties that make it stand out as an obvious choice for car care:
Durability: Graphene's high tensile strength ensures a longer-lasting protective layer on your vehicle, meaning you can go longer between washes or endure harsher environments (i.e. more rain, longer periods parking outside).
Heat Resistance: It effectively resists heat, preventing damage from prolonged exposure to the sun. Since Ceramic actually retains heat but has great strength properties, when you add Graphene to a mixture with Ceramic, it helps dissipate the heat and makes the protection even stronger.
Richness and Luster: At the molecular level, Graphene fills in divots or micro-abrasions in the clear coat layer, allowing for stronger light reflection in the clear coat. So, Graphene effectively acts like a magnifying glass on the surface of the vehicle, enhancing the appearance of the color and shine of the vehicle’s base paint layer.
Graphene represents the pinnacle of innovation in the car care industry. At Mint Eco, we believe in providing our customers with the latest and most advanced solutions for protecting their vehicles. The inclusion of Graphene in our Ceramic formulas is a testament to our commitment to excellence. As you drive away from our car wash after enjoying our new Mint wash, know that your vehicle is shielded by the power of Graphene.
Don’t just take our word for it: try out our new Mint Wash, featuring Graphene, Armor All Ceramic, and Rain-X technology for yourself today. Click here!