7H+, 9H+ or MEGA 8: choosing a paint coating and building layer systems
Paint coatings are not interchangeable. Some are built to sit on the paint and harden it, others to face the weather and the car wash. Knowing the role of each product lets a studio build offers at different prices without guessing.
Base coat and top coat
KRYTEX 9H+ is a ceramic base coat. On its own it is not hydrophobic — its contact angle is 78° — but it bonds to the paint, adds hardness (3.5 Mohs / 93 Shore) and strengthens the top layer of paint by 3–15%. Its job is to carry the top coat: under one, it extends the life of the hydrophobic layer up to 2× and gives 12–18 months of protection. 9H+ is always sealed with a top coat — 7H+ or MEGA 8.
Top coats face water, dirt and washing. They give the beading, the slick feel and most of the gloss.
| Product | Role | Contact angle | Service life | Wash resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7H+ | Liquid glass, top coat or standalone | 115° | 6 months | up to 30 washes / 15,000 km |
| MEGA 8 | Composite coating, top coat or standalone | 118° | up to 12 months | up to 65 washes / 25,000 km |
| 9H+ | Ceramic base coat, needs a top coat | 78° | 12–18 months with a top coat | — |
| MEGA 10 | Titanium coating for all gloss paints | 82° | 24 months / 96 washes | — |
All four are applied at 1–2 ml/m²; a 50 ml bottle covers about 2–3 cars.
Layer systems
Combining a base coat with a top coat gives the longest result. The water repellency of a system comes from its top layer, the durability from the base underneath.
- 9H+ + MEGA 8 — about 12 months.
- 2 × 9H+ + MEGA 8 — about 15 months.
Between layers of 9H+, and before the top coat, wait at least 40 minutes; there is no upper limit, so the next layer can follow later the same day.
How to apply
- Two-phase wash; remove tar, oil stains and iron fallout, then clay the paint.
- Polish the paint — coatings lock in whatever finish is underneath.
- Degrease with KRYTEX DEGREASER.
- Load the applicator with 10–15 drops and work in 40×40–50×50 cm sections in a cross-hatch pattern, adding 3–5 drops as you go.
- Buff with a clean dry microfiber: 9H+ when a rainbow sheen appears (10–30 s), 7H+ and MEGA 8 when the product starts to bead.
- Let the car cure at least 8 hours before delivery. Work at 15–25 °C and no more than 60% humidity, out of direct sunlight.
Which one to offer
- Entry offer or a quick refresh — 7H+ on its own.
- Standard protection for a year — MEGA 8 on its own.
- Premium package — two layers of 9H+ under MEGA 8.
- Long service with titanium oxide UV protection — MEGA 10.
Studios and dealers can request terms and samples; the full comparison of KRYTEX coatings is in the catalog.
