How to Prevent Carbon Fibre Parts from Yellowing or Clouding?

Remember the 1981 Monza Grand Prix race? John Watson had walked away without injuries after his McLaren MP4/1 crashed. That incident was a turning point for millions who started trusting carbon fibre over aluminium counterparts, and for justifiable reasons. The monocoque cabin proved impressively sturdy due to the presence of carbon fibre. As the fears of the automotive industry disappeared, and the crowd recognised its low weight and high performance, the material became increasingly common in automotive applications.

Despite the lightness, strength and sleekness of carbon fibres, the material is not invincible. It demands proper care and maintenance to preserve its finest condition. As we walk you through the steps to protect, restore and retain the aesthetics and functionality of carbon fibres, prepare to learn the best practices and prolong their lifespan. Also, we recommend to car enthusiasts the top picks in carbon fibre restoration and protection.

Carbon Fibre Protection—Why Is It Imperative For Every Car?

Oxidation and fading are the most common threats to carbon fibre. They occur due to prolonged exposure to UV rays, weather changes and extreme temperatures. As the topcoat—gel, epoxy and resin—oxidises, the material turns dull and hazy. In other words, the carbon weave remains the same; only the treated surface deteriorates. Over time, gels and resins display stains and etchings due to environmental damage from bug splatter, tree sap and bird droppings.

Now, you might question the superiority of gel, resin and epoxy coats. Understandably, these finishes are inexpensive, but the highly regarded clear coat is also not impenetrable. Hence, the oxidation and fading.

Is Carbon Fibre Restoration Needed For Your Vehicle?

Instead of setting up a workstation with an entire range of products to polish the carbon fibre of your car straight away, pause for a while. It’s time to examine the condition of the carbon fibre and the coating it displays. Only if it’s heavily oxidised and sitting untouched under the sun, proceed with polishing the carbon fibre surface. However, if you have not neglected it much, you may skip this step. At Auto Finesse, we are only instructing you to analyse the extent of dullness and advance accordingly.

Steps for Carbon Fibre Restoration and Protection

Oxidised and damaged carbon fibre is recoverable. Regardless of the coating used, gel or clear, the steps below will apply:

1. Preparation The first and foremost stage requests car enthusiasts to check for the presence of grime and contamination. Thoroughly clean the part you intend to protect and polish using pre-wash and contact washing methods. Remember to decontaminate afterwards, using our clay bars, Glide clay lube and clay pad. It’s all about preparing the surface to be treated for compounding. The usage of clay ensures embedded contaminants are pulled out, preventing them from interfering with carbon fibre polishing. Once you are done with preparation, apply Lather car shampoo to address the leftover lube or traces of contaminants. Lastly, dry out the washed surface with the Aqua Deluxe drying towel by Auto Finesse.
2. Polishing Stage 2 is all about polishing carbon fibre. Take our One Step product to compound, polish and refine consecutively. Then, mask areas that are at risk of abrasion, including rubber, plastic trim and paint. Once done, apply a few drops of One Step using the Revitalise No:2 pad. When treating larger areas, spread the product across 2 sq. ft. Ensure you lower the speed when setting it up. As you proceed, increase the speed and apply a light downward pressure. On completion, remove the pad from the carbon fibre and any excess lingering product. Take the help of a pad cleaning brush if needed. When you return to the panel, lower the speed while making two more passes for a complete breakdown of the compound. Finish with a microfibre cloth, wiping away any residue left behind. See the difference? Now, repeat the step all over the entire part and move over to the next stage.
3. Protection Polishing is an incomplete carbon fibre protection, especially when dealing with gel coat surfaces. This stage is straightforward if you are stocked up with the Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit by Auto Finesse. It’s responsible for offering a hardy SiO2 protection for up to 12 months. With Caramics, you can transfer the coating effortlessly to surfaces. However, surface preparation is key, and a prep spray does the magic. You only need to spray and wipe off the entire panel for the removal of oil and residue. The next step is to apply the coating using our Ceramic Resin Wipe, taking care to fold it into quarters so that it fits comfortably in your hand. Follow the same application as you do for paintwork. Greater coverage demands working up and down, side to side, while making overlapping motions. Pause for 2-3 minutes before buffing off the residue using a fresh microfibre cloth. Take the help of Auto Finesse’s Swirl Spotter detailing light to ensure complete removal. For the coating to cure, it’s best to leave the vehicle aside for up to 6 hours. The outcome will be complete protection, just the way you wanted.
4. Maintenance While you may feel carbon fibre protection is enough, it’s not so. Maintenance is equally crucial for the carbon fibre parts to remain intact. During washes, ensure proper pre- and contact-washing techniques. If possible, apply Caramics Enhancing Shampoo, along with Caramics Gloss Enhancer, to prolong the Caramics coatings.

Watch how we freshened up the carbon fibre parts of the Toyota Supra right here. Draw invaluable insights you could implement during your time. As for the products featured in our collection, the reviews here can encourage you to shop online from Auto Finesse and take your detailing game up a notch.

Carbon Fibre Restoration—Products to Shop From Auto Finesse

We are sure you are seeking durable protection for the carbon fibre components of your vehicle. Ceramic protection proves perfect. However, if it’s gel-coated, a hard barrier is anticipated to safeguard the automotive parts from UV radiation and other environmental elements. Order the Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit and enjoy its easy application.

When treating clear-coated carbon fibre parts, apply hardcore ceramic coating. However, if you feel it resembles paintwork, switch to wax-based protection. While regular waxing nullifies the need for a separate product, it’s best to order Tripple All-in-One, a polish and wax combination, to address light marks, faint swirls and mild oxidation. The carnauba wax content in it will leave an additional warm glow.

Are you dealing with serious discolouration? Switch to a heavier abrasive to restore the cloudy gel coating. However, if you plan to treat the carbon fibre parts with ceramic coating later, ensure the absence of waxes or fillers in your polishing product. Wondering why? Well, those ingredients could lead to improper bonding of the ceramic coating.

We are sure you are seeking the perfect product for this task. We recommend One Step all-in-one compound for a true finish. The speciality about it is that it acts like a coarse cutting compound at first, but later finishes down to a fine finishing compound. It’s much like a two-in-one product, responsible for carbon fibre restoration. You will only require Caramics Protection later to finish off the process.

Dealing with lighter defects? Auto Finesse has you covered with Revitalise System, a compound comprising no filler or wax, perfect for restoring the mild issues without switching to coarser compounds. Look for a local stockist near you to gather our detailing products.

Keep Your Car’s Carbon Fibre Looking Fresh and Restored All the Time

Carbon fibre parts need not be vulnerable during summer. With the appropriate protection, restoration and maintenance routine, you can retain the gloss, strength and striking finish over the years. At Auto Finesse, let us introduce you to the most suitable products. While carbon fibre can be treated the same way you take care of a vehicle’s paintwork, it’s wise to take into account the specific finish, including textured, gloss and matte. For any assistance, you can always rely on our collection for the best outcomes.