UV protection in paint

UV protection in paintwork is now one of the cornerstones of professional detailing: the sun oxidises, discolours the varnish and visually ages the car, while solutions such as PPF and ceramic coatings preserve shine, colour and resale value for years. Pinturas Camp de Turia, with more than 25 years of experience working with workshops and individuals, integrates this technology with a professional catalogue of sealants, varnishes, and auxiliary products designed to maximise this protection and facilitate work in the booth and detailing area.

What is UV protection in paint?

• Ultraviolet radiation degrades pigments and varnishes, causing loss of gloss, yellowing and a ‘burnt’ appearance of paint over time.
• A good UV protection strategy combines physical barriers (PPF, high-quality varnishes) and chemical barriers (ceramic coatings, sealants) that reduce the amount of UV rays reaching the varnish.

PPF: physical shield against UV rays and damage

• PPF (Paint Protection Film) is a transparent film that is applied over the paintwork and blocks approximately 99% of UV rays, as well as absorbing impacts from gravel, micro-scratches and minor scrapes.
• When properly installed, it can provide protection for 5–10 years, depending on the quality of the film and maintenance, making it the premium choice for the front, side skirts, wheel arches, and high-impact areas.
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Key advantages of PPF

• A real physical barrier against chips, swirls and mechanical damage, something that no ceramic coating can match.
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• Very high UV protection that prevents colour fading and varnish cracking, especially in climates with high insolation, such as much of Spain.
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Ceramic coatings: chemical shield and wet look effect

• A ceramic coating forms a transparent, very hard and highly hydrophobic layer over the varnish, offering excellent protection against UV rays, chemicals (bird droppings, resin, insects) and dirt.
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• Its great advantage over traditional wax is its durability: while standard wax offers around 3 months of real protection, a well-applied ceramic coating can last between 2 and 5 years, depending on the product, preparation and maintenance.
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Main benefits of ceramic coatings

• Very pronounced ‘wet look’ shine, freshly waxed car effect and extremely easy to clean thanks to its water and dirt repellency.
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• UV and chemical protection reinforcement over the entire surface of the vehicle, including plastics and tyres in many systems, ideal for daily use and tighter budgets than a full PPF.
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PPF vs ceramic coating: which to choose

Type of protection Physical: impacts, gravel, swirls, minor scratches. Chemical: UV, dirt, chemicals, slight micro-abrasion resistance.
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UV protection: Very high, around 99%. High, protects against discolouration and loss of shine.
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Typical durability: 5–10 years depending on film and usage. 2–5 years, depending on product and maintenance.
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Cost: Higher due to materials and installation time. More economical and quicker to apply.
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Aesthetics: Invisible, maintains OEM appearance. Highly glossy with a ‘self-cleaning’ effect.
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In practice, many high-end detailers combine PPF in critical areas (front, side skirts, tailgate) with ceramic coating on the rest of the panels, achieving maximum physical protection where the car suffers most and very easy maintenance of the rest of the bodywork.
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ROI: why UV protection pays off

• A complete front-end repair (bumper + bonnet + wings) with high-quality repainting can easily exceed €2,000, while a professional partial PPF treatment or full ceramic coating typically costs between €300 and €500, making the return on investment very attractive when comparing the cost of prevention versus repair.
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• In addition to direct savings, keeping the paintwork in near-new condition for years improves the vehicle’s resale value and reduces the hours spent polishing, decontaminating and repainting in the medium term.
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How does the Pinturas Camp de Turia catalogue fit in?

Pinturas Camp de Turia not only offers final detailing solutions, but also all the intermediate products that ensure that PPF and ceramic coatings work on a perfect base: sealants, high-end varnishes and thinners adapted to UHS systems.

HB Body Sealants (22 references)

• HB Body sealants enable the preparation of a stable, homogeneous and well-levelled substrate prior to varnishing, which is key to ensuring that the PPF film adheres correctly and the ceramic coating cures evenly.
• With 22 references, professionals can adapt the sealant to the type of substrate (sheet metal, plastic, repainted), drying times and booth conditions, optimising times and minimising the risk of suction or adhesion problems.

Selemix products (9 references)

• The Selemix line is aimed at professionals seeking high-performance systems in terms of colourimetry and resistance, ideal for repainting jobs that will subsequently receive PPF or ceramic coating, where colour stability against UV rays is essential.
• The nine references enable efficient painting cycles to be configured, combining primers, industrial paints and specific varnishes according to the type of vehicle and use (fleets, commercial vehicles, etc.).

UHS Thinner

• UHS Thinner, with a retail price of €33, is designed to work with varnishes and high solids systems, allowing for fine atomisation, good spreading and optimal levelling, which translates into less orange peel and a finish ready to receive additional protection.
• Correct use of the thinner reduces application defects, rework and material costs, while improving the subsequent anchoring of ceramic coatings and the final appearance under a PPF film.

IHS EXTRA CLEAR varnishes

• IHS EXTRA CLEAR varnish, valued at €393.64 for a 5-litre container, is designed to achieve maximum transparency and shine, which is essential when the aim is to complement PPF or ceramic coatings without altering the base colour.
• Its high-quality formulation offers greater resistance to yellowing and wear, reinforcing the underlying UV protection and ensuring that, even when the ceramic coating or PPF degrades over time, the varnish continues to look excellent.

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