Ceramic Coatings, Explained

A quick walkthrough of what a ceramic coating actually does — and the chemistry behind it.

Ceramic Coating Melbourne | Professional Paint Protection | Alpha Details

Ceramic Coating · Melbourne · Heidelberg West

Chemistry-led ceramic coating that actually performs long-term.

Alpha Details is Melbourne's chemistry-driven ceramic coating specialist, operating from our dedicated studio in Heidelberg West. Every vehicle we coat goes through a multi-stage preparation process grounded in surface chemistry — because a coating is only as good as the surface underneath it.

Call 0407 191 223Email for a quote

Labocosmetica Armorius PPF coating products at Alpha Details Heidelberg West studio with classic blue Porsche in the background

What Is Ceramic Coating?

A professional ceramic coating is a liquid polymer based on silicon dioxide (SiO₂) that chemically bonds to your vehicle's clear coat at a molecular level. Once cured, it forms a semi-permanent glass-like layer that provides hydrophobic water repellency, UV protection, chemical resistance, and enhanced gloss. Unlike waxes and sealants that sit on top of the surface and wash away within weeks, a properly applied ceramic coating becomes part of the surface itself — lasting years, not months.

Our Approach: Tailored Coating Solutions

At Alpha Details, we don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to paint protection. We take time to consult with every client, assessing their vehicle type, daily use, parking conditions, budget, and expectations. From there, we recommend the right coating system — whether that's primarily chemical protection, physical protection, or a combination of both.

Chemical protection

Coatings that bond molecularly to the clear coat and provide resistance against environmental contaminants, bird droppings, tree sap, UV degradation, and chemical exposure.

Physical protection

Coatings that build a thicker sacrificial barrier layer on the paint surface, offering superior scratch and mar resistance. Some vehicles benefit from one approach; many benefit from layering both.

Alpha Details Physical vs Chemical resistance map showing where each ceramic coating sits — HPC Pro top-left, STC and Blindo Plus on the physical side, Ceramic Ultra V3, Feynlab Ultra and Blindo + HPC stack on the high-resistance corner
Where each coating sits on the two-axis map — physical vs chemical resistance. Stack HPC Pro on top of Blindo Plus to reach the upper-right corner.

Labocosmetica Ceramic Coatings

We are certified applicators and authorised trainers for the Labocosmetica professional coating range — an Italian brand built on advanced polymer science. We carry and apply the full range, and we accredit other detailers in it.

Entry · 2 years

HPC 2.0

Hybrid polysiloxane coating with new-generation polymers. Si–O backbone delivers strong hydrophobic behaviour. PFAS-free. Rated 24 months / 30,000 km.

Best for: leased vehicles, daily drivers on a budget, proven entry-level protection.

Advanced · 4 years

HPC Pro

Polysilazane/polymer blend. Si–N backbone delivers significantly greater chemical resistance than Si–O. Rated 48 months / 60,000 km.

Best for: serious chemical durability, outdoor parking, harsh conditions.

Hybrid · physical-led

STC

Dual-oxide system: SiO₂ + TiO₂. ~70% physical / 30% chemical. Outstanding for delicate paint colours prone to marring and swirl marks.

Best for: dark or sensitive paints. Pair with HPC Pro on top for full coverage.

Ultimate

Blindo Plus

High molecular weight resin with polyhedral 3D siloxane cage and SFC technology. Highest physical and chemical resistance in the Labocosmetica system.

Best for: prestige vehicles, show cars, maximum durability.

Pro tip: STC + HPC Pro is our most popular combination for daily drivers and outdoor-parked vehicles — 70/30 physical-to-chemical base layer topped with 4-year polysilazane chemical resistance.

Certified · Accredited · Trainer

We're Labocosmetica Australia accredited applicators — and we accredit other detailers in it.

Paul Recinella holds the Labocosmetica training and attendance certification (pictured). Beyond applying coatings on customer cars, Alpha Details runs accreditation courses for trade detailers and dealerships in the full Labocosmetica professional range.

Paul Recinella holding the Labocosmetica training and attendance certification

Feynlab Ceramic Coatings

We are certified installers, authorised trainers and accreditors for the Feynlab professional range — an advanced nanotechnology-based coating system. We provide accreditation and training in the Feynlab range to detailers and Porsche dealerships, so the people applying your coating are the same people teaching the professionals.

Entry · 1–2 years

Ceramic Lite

Hydrophobic nano coating with lower solids content. Excellent water beading, UV protection, ease of maintenance. Lower price point.

Best for: newer vehicles in good paint condition needing straightforward protection.

Advanced · 5 years

Ultra V3

Biphasal hybrid ceramic — base coat + top coat chemistry in a single application. 113° water contact angle. Exceptional gloss depth. Professional-use only.

Best for: the sweet spot of premium protection and performance.

Self-healing · 5 years

Heal Lite

Memory polymer activates above 30°C — heat from sunlight or warm water makes the coating flow back into light scratches and swirl marks. Up to 5 microns thick.

Best for: dark and non-metallic finishes where swirl marks are most visible.

We train Porsche dealerships in the Feynlab range. The people coating your car are the same people teaching the professionals.

All Products Available in Our Store

We sell every product in both the Labocosmetica and Feynlab ranges through our online store. Some products are professional-use only — we offer certification and hands-on training for detailers and trade professionals who want to apply these coatings themselves. Browse our full Labocosmetica collection and Feynlab collection.

Our Preparation Process

Every ceramic coating at Alpha Details begins with thorough decontamination. Applying a ceramic coating over contaminated or damaged paint simply locks in the imperfections — which is why our preparation process is non-negotiable.

01

Decontaminate

Iron fallout removal, tar removal, clay bar pass to strip embedded contaminants from the clear coat.

02

Inspect

Assessment under high-intensity lighting to identify swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation. Paint thickness gauged.

03

Polish

Single-stage or multi-stage paint correction with progressively refined Koch Chemie compounds. IPA wipe-down.

04

Apply

Panel-by-panel coating application with controlled cure conditions. Post-cure inspection under inspection lighting.

Worth knowing →

We run the same decontamination process before every ceramic coating that we run before PPF: iron decontamination, tar removal, clay or synthetic clay pass, IPA wipe, and inspection under proper lighting. Only then does the coating go on.

Pricing

Ceramic coating packages at Alpha Details start from $1,400 and range up to $5,000 depending on the vehicle size, paint condition, level of paint correction required, and the coating system selected. Every job includes full decontamination and at minimum a single-stage paint correction. We provide a detailed quote after assessing your vehicle — no surprises.

Entry

From $1,400

Full decontamination + single-stage paint correction + entry-level coating (HPC 2.0 / Ceramic Lite). 1–2 year durability.

Standard

From $2,500

Full decontamination + multi-stage paint correction + premium coating (HPC Pro / Ultra V3 / Heal Lite). 4–5 year durability.

Ultimate

Up to $5,000

Full decontamination + full paint correction + layered coating system (Blindo Plus, STC + HPC Pro). Maximum protection. Show cars / prestige vehicles.

Trade · Detailers · Dealerships

Train with Alpha Details

We accredit and train detailers and dealerships in the full Labocosmetica and Feynlab professional ranges from our Heidelberg West studio. Hands-on application training with the same chemistry we use on customer cars every day.

Enquire about training →

Alpha Details Chemistry Series — every contamination on your paint is either inorganic (acid) or organic (alkaline)

Alpha Details · Chemistry Series

Acid or alkaline? Every contamination is one or the other.

More chemistry deep-dives on the Alpha Details blog — the family tells you the chemistry, the chemistry tells you the product.

Read the Chemistry Series →

Book Your Ceramic Coating in Melbourne

Ready to protect your vehicle with a ceramic coating that's backed by real chemistry? Contact Alpha Details to book a consultation. We'll assess your vehicle, discuss your needs and budget, and recommend the right coating system — whether that's an entry-level 2-year coating or a full multi-layer system with self-healing technology. Based in Heidelberg West, we service all of Melbourne.

Phone: 0407 191 223 | Email: detailsalpha@outlook.com

Chemistry sets the ceiling for every coating. Our preparation process makes sure you hit it.