Nano ceramic for glass or heat insulation film? The difference that confuses people
The name "nano ceramic" covers two different things: a liquid coating that repels water, and a film fitted on the glass that cuts heat. Know which one you are asking about before you pay.
Someone asks: "I want nano ceramic for the glass, how much is it?" The right answer is: "Which one do you mean?" In the market, the words "nano ceramic" are used for two things that have nothing to do with each other, and many people pay for one when they wanted the other.
What's the difference: nano ceramic vs heat insulation film?
Nano ceramic is a liquid coating, and heat insulation is a film. The first repels water and adds gloss, and the second is the one that cuts heat.
- Nano ceramic coating: a liquid applied to the paint, and it can also go on the glass and the wheels. It dries into a thin clear layer.
- Heat insulation film: a film fitted on the glass, and it is the one that blocks part of the sun's rays.
The confusion comes from the fact that some heat films carry the trade name "nano ceramic" because they contain ceramic particles. So the name is the same, and the product is completely different.
What does a nano ceramic coating do on glass?
It makes water slide off the glass and makes the glass easier to clean. It does not insulate against heat.
If someone offers you "nano ceramic for the windscreen, for the heat", ask them: is it a liquid or a film? If it is a liquid, it won't cool the car.
What does heat insulation film do?
It blocks part of the sun's rays before they enter the cabin. A large part of the sun's heat comes from infrared rays, and that is what good heat films focus on.
The film can be clear or dark. Darkness cuts light, and it has no direct link to heat insulation: a clear film can insulate better than a cheap dark film.
What does "nano ceramic tint" mean?
It is a heat film of the ceramic type, but in a dark shade. In other words it is window tint, in a different material from ordinary dyed tint.
Which figures should I ask about before I buy heat film?
Four things, and ask for them in writing:
- Visible light transmission (VLT): the share of light that gets through. The higher the figure, the lighter the film.
- Infrared rejection (IR): the figure printed large in the adverts.
- Total heat rejection (TSER): this is the figure you actually feel, and it is usually lower than the IR figure.
- Brand: the name of the manufacturer, not "Korean film" or "American film".
And the most important rule: compare the same figure. A film labelled "99% IR" is not necessarily better than a film labelled "60% TSER", because those are two different measures.
What does EGY X offer for glass?
Three things, and each one has its own job:
- Clear heat insulation film: a 3M film that doesn't darken the glass, and it blocks up to 98% of infrared rays. By the calculation this site uses, that is about 57% of the sun's total heat. It costs EGP 3,500, and after fitting you don't open the windows for 3 days.
- Window tint with heat insulation: a separate service. 3M, 30% tint and 70% heat insulation, fitted on the four doors and the rear glass, priced at EGP 3,500.
- Nano ceramic coating: for water and cleaning, not for heat.
The difference between the first two, simply: the clear heat film cools the car without changing the colour of the glass; window tint with heat insulation darkens and insulates.
The details are on the heat insulation film page and the Window Tint with Heat Insulation page.
Can I have both together?
Yes, because each one has its own job. The nano coating is for water and cleaning, and the heat film is for heat. Both are in our paint protection film packages: nano for the glass and the wheels, and heat insulation film for the glass.
If you want to understand nano on the paint itself, read Nano ceramic, honestly. And for the types of heat film, see the heat insulation film guide.
