The Technology
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The Technology Behind Paint Protection Film Paint Protection Film History. It was during the Vietnam War, with the US Armed Forces' total dependence upon their large fleet of helicopters, that a solution to incessant rotor damage was needed - fast. The helicopters were losing lift due to minor pitting of the leading edge of the rotors, and this required major work to dismantle, replace, reassemble and rebalance those rotors.Â
3M's labs came up with a simple but elegant solution that is still used today in all sorts of aviation and automotive applications - cover the damage-prone areas with a strong but replaceable film. This idea is still used on modern helicopters, fighter planes, commercial and recreational aircraft. Today's Film. From that military background 40 years ago, we can now enjoy the benefits that Paint Protection Film provides, although at a very affordable price. Today's film is now the latest of many generations of film and adhesive development, and we can entrust this film to protect our most vulnerable painted surfaces.Â
The film does not change the shape, colour or look of your car. It has the ability to be stretched and can therefore cover complex, compound curves that are found on today's vehicles. Film Construction. The film is multilayered and has its own special pressure-sensitive adhesive attached to it. The body of the film is tough, 99.9% transparent thermoplastic polyurethane. A special clear-coat provides a high gloss surface that matches the clear-coat on today's cars. (The paper liner is removed just prior to installation.)
Facts about Polyurethane.
Polyurethane is a unique material that offers the elasticity of rubber combined with the toughness and durability of metal. Because urethane is available in a very broad hardness range (eraser-soft to bowling-ball-hard), it allows the engineer to replace rubber, plastic and metal with the ultimate in abrasion resistance and physical properties.
Urethanes have better abrasion and tear resistance than rubbers, while offering higher load bearing capacity.
Compared to plastics, urethanes offer superior impact resistance, while offering excellent wear properties and elastic memory.
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Advantages of Polyurethane
Abrasion resistantParts made of polyurethane will often outwear other materials by a margin of 5 to 50/one when severe abrasion is a factor. It has been proven to be vastly superior to rubber plastics and metal in many applications.
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Oil and solvent resistant
Polyurethane has excellent resistance to oils, solvents, fats, greases and gasoline.
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Tear resistant
Tear-strength ranges between 500-1000 lbs./linear inch, which is far superior to rubbers. As a result, urethane is often used as drive belts, diaphragms, roll covers, cutting pads, gaskets and chute liners.
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Weather resistant.
Polyurethane has outstanding resistance to oxygen, ozone, sunlight and general weather conditions.
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Flex-Life
Most formulations offer extremely high flex-life and can be expected to outlast other elastomer materials where this feature is an important requirement. Dust boots, bellows, diaphragms, belts, couplings and similar products are made from urethane for this reason.
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Heat and cold resistant
Continuous use above 225°F is not recommended nor is urethane recommended in hot water over 175°F. At low temperatures, polyurethane will remain flexible down to -90°F. A gradual stiffening will occur at 0°F, but will not become pronounced until much lower temperatures are obtained.
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