Glass coat is just a marketing term. It actually refers to ceramic coating. In our market some use the term glass coat for sealants which is actually wrong. Ceramic Pro 9H is also a ceramic coating.
So this is one category of paint protection products. Next two categories are sealants and waxes.
Wax
- Made with natural ingredients like carnauba, beeswax, etc.
- Leaves high gloss on the paint.
- Poor hydrophobic and self cleaning properties.
- Not able hold against high temperature. Can start melting at 80C which most dark colored cars easily cross in summer.
- Least durable. Approx 1 month durability.
- Example products: Meguiar's Gold Class, TurtleWax Super Hard Shell and Carnauba Cleaner Wax, Formula 1 Carnauba Wax, Klink Carnauba Wax, Sonax Super Liquid Wax, and many more.
Hybrid
- Blend of carnauba and synthetic ingredients
- Average gloss level
- Average to Good (depends on product) hydrophobic and self cleaning properties.
- Able to resist high temperatures
- Durability between 2 or 3 months. For some products durability is almost same as sealants
Example Products: Harris Premium Hard Wax, Fomula1 Premium Liquid/Paste Wax, Sonax Brilliant Xtreme Wax 1, TurtleWax ICE Liquid/Paste Wax and many more.
Sealant
- Man made 100% synthetic product.
- Sometimes manufacturers advertise it as wax (like Fusso Coat) because layman don't understand the term sealant.
- Average gloss level
- Good hydrophobic and self cleaning properties.
- Able to resist high temperatures. Approx melting point ranges between 100C - 250C. Depends on the product.
- Good durability. Lasts between 3 to 8 months. Again depends on the product.
Example Products: Menzerna Powerlock, Sonax PNS, Soft99 Fusso Coat, and many more.
Ceramic Coating
- 100% synthetic man made
- High gloss level
- Excellent hydrophobic and self cleaning properties
- Ability to resist extreme temperatures. Even more than sealant.
- Highly durable. Lasts between 1 to 3 years.
- Example products: CarPro Cquartz, CarPro Cquartz UK, Nasiol ZR53, Nasiol NL272, CeramicPro 9H, Gyeon Q2 One, Gyeon Q2 Mohs, Gyeon Q2 Syncros, and many more.
Paint Protection Film
Not any one of the above will prevent stone chips. Not even ceramic coatings. Any paint protection product can prevent very fine scratches to some extent. But don't expect it to prevent deep scratches or stone chips.
This is where PPF (Paint Protection Film also known as clear bra) comes in. It can prevent scratches and stone chips. It's tranparent and will reveal the paint color and condition underneath it. This is preferred protection used by many high end car owners.
Vinyl Wrap
3m wrap is vinyl wrap. It's not as tough as PPF. Main purpose of wrap is to change look of car but in addition to that it may prevent minor scratches but may not prevent stone chips.
Some people apply PPF or wrap on their cars and then apply sealant or ceramic coating over it.