The invention relates to the use of polysilazanes as a permanent coating on metal and polymer surfaces for preventing corrosion, increasing scratch resistance and to facilitate easier cleaning. The invention comprises a solution of a polysilazane or a blend of polysilazanes of the general formula 1 —(SiR′R″—NR′″)n—  (1) where R′, R″ and R′″ are identical or different and independently of one another represent hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, vinyl or (trialkoxysilyl)alkyl group and n represents a whole number and is calculated in such a way that the polysilazane has a numerical average molecular weight of 150 to 150 000 g/mol, in a solvent. The invention also relates to a method for producing the coating.