Various sealants are touted as polymer formulations. Is a product with a polymer formulation better, or worse? What is a polymer?
"Polymer formulations."
Product descriptions of sealants tend to describe at length the beneficial effects of the product, but for competitive reasons give precious little information about what the product contains. Typically, about the only information about the product's secret contents, even in a long product description, are a few words such as “a pure acrylic polymer sealant” (Acrylic Jett), or “silicone free” (ClearKote sealants), or even less descriptive phrases such “a polymer formulation” (Meguiars Mirror Glaze #21 Synthetic Sealant) or “an advanced total synthetic polymer protectant” (Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal).
What is a polymer?
“Polymer” is derived from the Greek words polys and meros, which mean “many” “parts.” A polymer is a substance with large molecular mass composed of chains of repeating structural units (monomers) connected by covalent chemical bonds to form macro-molecules. Polymerization is the “uniting of two or more monomers to form a polymer.” In other words, polymerization involves the formation of chains of monomers to form a polymer. The nature and relative arrangement of the monomers that form the polymer influences the properties of the polymer. See Wikipeida on Polymers.
In what products are polymers used?
Polymers are used in a wide variety of products, including for example rubbers, plastics and acrylic glass (plexiglass).
Both acrylic and silicone based automobile sealants used by detailers are polymer formulations.
An acrylic resin used in automotive sealants is a poly Methyl Methacrylate, which is formed by the polymerization of the Methyl Methacrylate monomer. Methyl methacrylate itself is a synthetic formulation. Another use of polymethyl methacrylate, for example, is to make acrylic glass (e.g. plexiglass). see Wikipedia on Acrylic Resins. A silicone fluid generally is formed by the polymerization of siloxanes or certain other monomers to form polysiloxanes or polydimethyl siloxance. Silicone can enhance gloss and durability, as well as repel moisture. It has been widely reported that a product with certain types of silicone should be avoided as it can be quite hard to remove from the paint. See Wikipedia on Silicones. However, this may be a concern largely of the past, as presumably modern quality sealants generally avoid the harmful type of silicone.
What is a cross-linked polymer? Is that good?
Cross-links are covalent bonds linking one polymer chain to another.
Wikipedia on Cross-links. Cross-linking increases the toughness and strength of the material. That is good for some products, but would be bad for others. Car tires are made of highly cross-linked polymers to increase durability and toughness and prevent air loss. Polymers in pencil erasers, on the other hand, are not cross-linked in order to promote flaking.
See Wikipeida on Polymers.
Cross-linked polymers are used in modern synthetic sealants.
"The development of modern polymeric sealants coincided with the development of the polymer industry itself, sometime in the early 1930’s." "Common sealants include silicones, acrylics, urethanes, butyls and other polymeric types."
Wikipeidia on Sealants. Since the cross-linking of polymers increases the toughness and strength of the material, it makes sense that the cross-linking of polymers is an essential element of modern synthetic automobile sealants. In fact the curing of sealants involves the cross-linking process after the sealant is applied. "What does "cure" mean to a polymer? Simple, it means that the polymer molecules have cross-linked to create a strong chain, and that the polymer chain has bonded to your paint's surface."
David Bynon on Curing. More specifically, I think, monomers have bonded to each other to form chains, or polymers, and in the curing process those chains cross-link by chemically bonding with other chains and to the paint's surface.
Polycharger is advertised as a "booster," due to the polymer composition of the material, and an "accelerant" due to fast oxygen induced cross-linking: "The booster component adds two new space age polymers designed for high temperature, high corrosive environments. When introduced to oxygen, the Polycharger accelerant hyper-activates polymers in their liquid state, forcing cross-linking to begin immediately."
Polycharger.
Zaino's Cure Acclerator Additive is described as a "cross-linking and acceleration additive" that "offers near-instant cure time . . . and improved bonding to both paint and additional layers ...." "Professional painters add chemicals and compounds to their paint mix prior to painting to promote cross-linking ... increase hardness, and improve gloss. We applied this same line of thinking in the development of ZFX."
ZFX.
Optimum states with respect to Opti-Seal: "The hyper concentrated polymer sealant begins cross-linking as soon as it hits the paint. Opti-Seal flashes almost immediately to leave a polymer film on the paint."
Opti-Seal.
Do Carnauba waxes contain polymers?
A Carnauba wax is sometimes distinguished from a synthetic sealant because Carnauba is a natural substance obtained from the Brazilian plant copernica cerifera. Waxes, however, also contain other ingredients that typically include synthetic substances. It is those other ingredients that tend to distinguish waxes, as well as the grade of Carnauba used. A Carnauba wax is sometimes called a “natural sealant” because it is made mostly of naturally occurring substances.
It is difficult to know the exact composition of wax formulations, as well as other products, because the formulations are proprietary. It is widely reported that the other synthetic substances in "natural" waxes generally include polymers. "All modern car waxes, including paint sealants and protective paint polishes, use polymer technology for better shine and protection. Even so-called pure Carnauba waxes contain polymers." See here,
Polycharger. For example, Chemical Guys Carnauba Creme Wax is described as a wax containing “natural Carnauba” and “silicone resins.” Meguiars waxes are advertised as containing polymers.
Meguiars FAQ. DP Max Wax is advertised as made of Carnauba and "engineered polymers."
Although polymers in Carnauba waxes are not generally of a type that cross-link, categorical statements that Carnauba waxes do not contain cross linking polymers may not be without exception. Blackfire Wet Diamond Ivory Carnauba Paste Wax incorporates a "super-polymer into the wax matrix...." "
By incorporating the super-polymer into the wax matrix, the bonding issue was fully overcome..." "[N]ow you can have all of the benefits afforded by state of the art polymer technology, married with the shimmering liquidity that only a high quality Carnauba wax can give." Polished Bliss on Blackfire Wet Diamond Ivory Caranuba Paste Wax.
Describing a sealant as a “cross-linked polymer formulation” does not really say much to differentiate the product.
Descriptions such as “polymer formulation,” “total synthetic polymer protectant,” or “cross-linked polymer formulation” probably describe almost all of the sealants on the market, and thus are not really very descriptive. They are marketing terms. There are a very large number of polymer forumulations. Not all formulations are equal. Sealants distinguish themselves by the type of chemically engineered polymer that is used, as well as the other combination of ingredients in the product.