Triphene vs Graphene vs SiO2 – What’s Actually Protecting Your Paint?

Q: What’s the difference between SiO₂, Graphene, and Triphene in car coatings?

SiO₂ (silicon dioxide) is the most trusted ceramic base. Graphene is often added in small amounts for marketing. Triphene is newer and largely unproven. Most high-quality sprays still rely on SiO₂.

Q: Is Graphene better than SiO₂?

Not necessarily. While graphene has potential benefits, most sprays use trace amounts. Well-formulated SiO₂ sprays often perform just as well or better in the real world.

Q: Is Triphene in MAXL products real or just hype?

Triphene is a proprietary term used by MAXL. There's little independent data confirming any real-world advantage over traditional SiO₂-based ceramic sprays.

These techy buzzwords get thrown around in ceramic sprays and coatings—but do Triphene, Graphene, or SiO₂ actually matter?

We broke down what these ingredients claim to do, how they behave in the real world, and which ones actually hold up on your paint.

🔬 What Is SiO₂ (Silicon Dioxide)?

This is the backbone of most ceramic sprays and coatings. SiO₂ creates a protective, hydrophobic barrier on your car’s surface.

What it does well: Repels water, boosts gloss, offers decent protection

What it struggles with: Durability can vary widely based on formula quality

Most legitimate coatings and sprays (including Tough As Shell) are SiO₂-based for a reason—it works.

🖤 What About Graphene?

Graphene sounds advanced, and it is—in theory. It's a form of carbon that’s incredibly strong and conductive. But in detailing?

Here’s the truth: Most “graphene” sprays contain trace amounts or use it as a buzzword. They often rely on the same SiO₂ structure but add just enough graphene oxide to legally use the term.

Bottom line: If a product’s only selling point is “graphene,” it’s probably not worth it.

🔵 What Even Is Triphene?

Triphene is a new buzzword introduced by MAXL. It’s marketed as a “next-gen” alternative to graphene and ceramic tech—but there’s very little peer-reviewed or lab-tested data behind it.

In our testing, MAXL's ceramic sprays showed good initial beading but faded quickly under daily driver conditions. No major advantage over traditional SiO₂ coatings.

So is Triphene real? Possibly. But does it outperform solid, proven formulas like Tough As Shell? Not from what we’ve seen.

⚖️ Final Verdict – Which Should You Use?

SiO₂: Trusted, balanced, and proven. Look for well-formulated sprays.
Graphene: Overhyped unless backed by good chemistry. Not a dealbreaker—but not magic.
Triphene: Too new, not enough proof. Use caution with long-term expectations.

If you want real results—not just a fancy label—stick with tested, high-performing formulas like Tough As Shell.

📌 Related Posts in This Series

✅ What We Recommend Instead

Tough As Shell – Sprayable ceramic protection backed by performance
Gloss Boss – Wipe-on, pro-level ceramic for long-term results