Here is an attempt to inform what the differences are between wax,polish,sealant etc by explaining what they are,what they do and what to expect with their pros and cons.
Carnauba Waxes - Waxes are typically blends of Brazilian Carnauba Wax (nature's hardest, natural wax), polymers, oils and gloss agents in a petroleum solvent base. Waxes create an easily renewable, glossy, transparent barrier to protect a vehicle's finish against a hostile environment. Waxes have withstood the test of time having been used for over 100 years to protect painted surfaces. Waxes are considered to be paint-friendly and are preferred by many enthusiasts for their deeper, richer shine. On the down side, Carnauba starts to melt at 160 degrees F. which limits its durability. A general rule of thumb for all Carnauba waxes is: 50% of the wax is gone after 30 days, 75% is gone after 60 days and after 90 days the surface should be re-waxed.
Compounds - Compounds are formulas of lubricants, solvents, water and abrasive minerals in either a liquid or paste construction. Compounds are designed to remove (abrade away) a portion of the top paint or clear coat layer which contain sanding swirls, scratches, water spots or blemishes. They are available in many different grades of abrasiveness or "cut" depending on the severity of the problem to be corrected. Compounds are best used with a circular polisher but can produce acceptable results with dual-action polishers if the defect is minor. Compounds typically leave the surface dull. This surface dullness is called haze or compounding lines and is removed by polishing with increasingly less abrasive polishes.
Paint Sealant - (Also called synthetic waxes and paint protectants) These are formulas of man-made polymers, oils, and gloss agents designed to protect painted and/or clear coated automotive finishes. They can be water-based, petroleum solvent-based or a combination of both. These formulas offer several advantages over Carnauba Waxes. They are very durable, capable of lasting six months or more, are easy to apply and wipe off and produce a very bright shine. Water-based and oil-in-water emulsions are very paint friendly making them perfect for historic, collector and exotic vehicles. They create a very hard, glass-like barrier which resists detergents, acid rain and pollution. On the down side, some enthusiasts feel synthetic waxes produce a "sterile" shine that is bright but lacks emotion. While this may be true of some products, other synthetic protectants can be engineered to mimic the look of Carnauba. The word "sealant" is being dropped by many manufacturers as it implies that it prevents the paint from "breathing". This is a myth. First, paint does not breath. In the curing process, paint should be exposed to the air so solvents can evaporate. After 30 days, cured paint should be protected or "sealed" with some type of natural or synthetic "wax".
Polishes - (Also called pre-wax cleaners) Polishes are formulas of oils, solvents, water, clays and minerals designed to improve surface gloss and remove old wax or sealants, minor swirls, compounding haze, and light oxidation. Polishes may or may not contain fine abrasives, silicones, fillers and waxes. They do not have the "cut" of compounds and typically burnish the surface to a mirror-like gloss rather than abrade away paint. Polishes can be applied by circular polishers, dual-action polishers or by hand. Unfortunately, there is no industry standard on what constitutes a polish and some manufacturers use the word "Polish" to describe their paint sealant which adds to consumer confusion. In the strictest sense a polish is a gloss-enhancing, cleaner not a protectant but some products do contain wax or sealants which blurs the line between polishes and protectants
hope this helps
john
