The Science Behind Ceramic Tint
How Does Ceramic Tint Work?
If you’re considering getting Ceramic window tint installed on your vehicle, you might be curious to understand more about what it does and how it works to see if it's the right investment for you.
The Wavelengths of Light
The sun emits shortwave radiation made up of Ultraviolet (UV), Visible Light (VL), and Infrared (IR)
UV is responsible for sunburn, skin cancer, and other skin damage as well as for damaging vehicle interiors.
VL is the wavelength of light that we can see.
IR is responsible for the heat we feel when sunlight hits our skin.
Shortwave radiation can easily penetrate car glass and is absorbed by interior surfaces like the dashboard and re-radiates in the form of longwave radiation. This heats up the air inside the car.
Longwave radiation can't pass through windows like shortwave radiation, trapping the heat inside the car, making it hotter and hotter.
How does Ceramic tint help?
Unlike regular dyed tint, which only blocks out Visible Light, Ceramic tint has nano particle blockers embedded into the film that filter out IR and UV rays while still allowing a specific amount of Visible Light through, depending on the shade you choose.
This keeps the majority of the heat on the glass and away from the driver, passengers, and interior surfaces.
High speed winds keep the glass cool as the vehicle moves, and the AC system quickly eliminates the small amounts of heat that manage to make it through.
By keeping the heat on the exterior of the vehicle, 2 things happen:
- The AC Becomes More Efficient. With less heat entering the cabin, the AC System needs to do less work to keep the interior cool, making it more efficient and saving you fuel in the long run.
- It Protects Passengers and Improves Comfort. Infrared radiation penetrates human skin the deepest and is what makes sunlight feel “hot”. UV causes skin damage and cancer, and is responsible for making leather and plastic interiors fade and crack. By blocking IR and UV Rays, Ceramic tint keeps your interior in pristine condition and protects the health and comfort of your passengers.
It's Important To Clarify A Few Things:
Ceramic window tint doesn't completely eliminate heat build up in a parked vehicle. Here's why:
Visible Light
A high quality Ceramic will absorb and reflect 90%+ of IR and 99.9% UV, however, depending on the shade (which is often regulated by law), a significant amount of Visible Light will still pass through the glass. VL is a form of shortwave radiation and is still enough to make your vehicle heat up.
Re-Radiation
Ceramic tint absorbs a lot of heat, preventing it from hitting interior surfaces directly, but with no winds and no active AC to cool down the glass, that heat will eventually re-radiate to the interior
Other Factors
It’s also important to note that windows aren’t the only way that heat gets inside the vehicle. Ultimately, a parked vehicle is a giant box of metal sitting in the sun. Even if the vehicle didn’t have any windows, it would still get hot due to humidity and heat transferring through the paint and pillars.
so...is Ceramic Tint worth it?
Here at Highland Auto Solutions, we firmly believe that Ceramic window tint is 100% worth the investment if you have the budget for it.
Ceramic window tint saves you hundreds and even thousands of dollars on a long enough time horizon by reducing your AC's fuel consumption and by preventing expensive repairs for your interior due to excessive heat and UV exposure. (Dashboards and leather interiors are notorious for fading and cracking)
While Ceramic window tint doesn't completely eliminate heat buildup, it is highly effective in reducing heat transmission, offering UV protection, and creating a more comfortable driving environment.
Invest in Car Window Tinting With Highland Auto Solutions
At Highland Auto Solutions, we take pride in our expert technicians who are well-trained and experienced in providing the highest level of service. Contact us for dealership-quality window tinting services that are convenient, affordable, and backed by a lifetime warranty. Schedule an appointment with us today and experience the difference!