Coating Science: What's Actually in a Ceramic Spray Coating

Graphene, Triphene, SiO2, ceramic — what the labels are really saying.

I'm Sean, the founder of Luma Auto. I make this product, so I'll tell you what's really in it. Most of the car care industry won't.

The honest answer

Almost every "ceramic spray coating" or "graphene coating" on the shelf is built on the same family of chemistry: an organosilane self-assembled monolayer, or SAM coating. A silicon-based molecule with two ends — one end bonds to your paint or glass, the other end faces outward and repels water. The molecules line up like dominoes and create a thin protective layer.

This chemistry has been around for over a decade. Where brands differ is in what gets added to the silane base — additional ingredients like graphene, carnauba wax, fluoropolymers, and other functional additives that affect feel, gloss, and durability.

What's in Luma Graphene

Here's what my chemists confirmed, and what our SDS shows:

• Water — 85–90%
• Silane polymer (cyclosilazane with triethoxysilyl-propyl reaction products) — 1–5%. The primary active ingredient. It's the molecule that bonds to your surface and creates the durable hydrophobic layer.
• Butoxy isopropanol — 1–2%. A coupling solvent that helps the silane spread evenly.
• Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) — 1–2%. A silicone fluid that adds gloss and smoothness.
• Light petroleum distillate — under 1%. A carrier solvent.
• Plus trace amounts of graphene and carnauba wax — present at concentrations below OSHA's mandatory SDS reporting threshold, which is why they don't appear on the published Safety Data Sheet. The graphene contributes to surface bonding and scratch resistance. The carnauba contributes to gloss and feel. Exact concentrations are proprietary to Luma Auto.

So is there actual graphene in it?

Yes. At trace concentration. It's a functional additive that helps the coating bond and resist scratching — it's not the structural backbone of the product. The silane polymer is what does the heavy lifting on durability and water repellency. The graphene is one of several supporting ingredients that fine-tune performance.

Why doesn't graphene show up on our SDS? Because OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard only requires manufacturers to list components above specific reporting thresholds (typically 1% for non-hazardous components, 0.1% for hazardous ones). Trace functional additives below those thresholds are real, but legally don't require disclosure. We're disclosing them here because you deserve to know.

What about MAXL's "Triphene"?

MAXL describes Triphene on their own help page as "a triple-layer that self-assembles on a surface upon contact. Two layers crosslink and bond to the surface, the outer third layer is a wax-like tail structure."

That description is the textbook definition of an organosilane SAM coating — same family of chemistry as ours. Triphene isn't a recognized chemical compound. It's a trademark name MAXL coined for their version of the chemistry. They don't publish a Safety Data Sheet, so we can't tell you what's actually in their bottle — what silane they're using, what additives they include, whether they contain graphene or any other functional ingredient. That's their choice. We made the opposite choice.

So which one is better?

For honest performance: in independent side-by-side tests, products in this category mostly perform within 10–20% of each other on water beading and gloss. Real differences come from the specific silane chemistry, the concentration of the active ingredient, the additives, and how clean your surface was when you applied it.

Where the meaningful differences show up is fitness for purpose. A product designed to coat your kitchen sink, patio chairs, and car (MAXL's positioning) is making a different trade-off than a product designed specifically for EV interiors and exteriors (ours).

We made Luma Graphene to be safe on the surfaces a Tesla or Rivian owner actually touches every day: PPF, ceramic-coated paint, vegan leather, touchscreens. Heat-stable. No solvents that attack tint or screen oleophobic coatings. That's the trade-off we picked.

If you just had PPF or window tint installed

The wrong aftercare product can undo a $3,000–$7,000 install. Ammonia destroys tint film. Acidic cleaners eat through PPF self-healing topcoats. Even "ceramic coatings" not designed for film can leave residue that traps dirt under the surface.

Luma Graphene is built around the chemistry your installer cares about: no ammonia, no acids, no aggressive solvents. The silane bonds to the top layer of your film without penetrating the adhesive. If your installer applied a professional ceramic coating on top of your PPF, this spray is what extends its life between detailing visits — it's compatible with virtually every pro topper on the market.

Same applies to interior film and window tint: ammonia-free Glass Cleaner, vegan-leather-safe APC, screen-safe trim dressing. The whole line is built for film-protected vehicles.

If you install PPF, window tint, or ceramic coatings professionally — and you want a US-made aftercare product line you can offer customers without worrying about your warranty, get in touch. We work with shops on wholesale pricing, referral commission programs, and complimentary kit drops for installers who want to test before recommending. Email Sean directly at support@lumaautomotive.com.

Why we publish our SDS — and why that's not the whole story

You can ask any car care manufacturer for their Safety Data Sheet. They're required by OSHA to provide it. Most won't, unless you push. Many never write one that has real ingredient detail — they put "proprietary blend" and call it done.

We publish ours because if you're going to spray something on a $80,000 vehicle and breathe the mist while you do it, you deserve to know what it is.

But an SDS isn't a complete recipe. It's a legal document that discloses what OSHA requires — hazardous components above specific thresholds, plus other safety-relevant information. Trace functional additives below threshold (like the graphene and carnauba in our formula) aren't required to be listed, but they're real ingredients that affect how the product performs. We told you about them on this page because that's the honest move.

If something here doesn't match what you've been told about ceramic coatings — fair. Ask us. We'll show you the chemistry.

— Sean
Founder, Luma Auto
support@lumaautomotive.com

Last updated: June 12, 2026. SDS LFGRPGSC16, revision 05/21/2026. Trace ingredient confirmation verified by our chemistry team, 6/12/2026.