Film Details.

(Note : passages highlighted in red carry important and essential reading.)

Paint Protection Film (regardless of the manufacturer) is specially engineered from polyurethane. Its job is to help protect painted surfaces from damage by stones, chemicals, bugs, bird poo and general road debris.

The film has 3 layers as shown in the diagram. The liner is removed just prior to installation.

The bottom layer is a pressure-sensitive removable adhesive that is developed in line with automotive paint manufacturers. The adhesive has to be strong enough to provide a significant bond so that it will hold the film to the painted surface under most conditions, such as extreme airflow, extreme water pressure, heat and cold. The adhesive has to be not too strong otherwise it will damage the paint if or when the film is removed. So the adhesive is engineered to a specification laid down by the paint manufacturers. Now, providing your paint job is Class A (i.e. factory-finish quality) then the film can be removed without damaging the paint.

The middle layer is soft polyurethane and is designed to absorb the energy from stones and other debris as they hit the film. Due to the construction of the film, the energy is transferred along the film, rather than through it, similar to the way a trampoline works.

The top layer is a thin, hard polyurethane that is designed to provide a high gloss finish so that the film looks good when installed. This layer is treated to be resistant to damage from UV rays.

The film can be damaged by stones, bugs, bird poo and chemicals, and it can age over time.

Maintenance

Please note : you must keep the film clean to minimise discolouring. The film has millions of microscopic holes in its construction, and over time these holes can fill up with dirt and chemicals, changing the colour of the film. Therefore, the film must be regularly cleaned and sealed.

3M suggest using a high quality automotive wax on a regular basis to seal their film.

VentureTape insist that you use Plexus on a regular basis to clean and seal their film.

We here at OziShield insist that you use Plexus on the film on a weekly basis to clean and seal the film (either 3M or VentureTape products). Plexus is a spray on and wipe off product that is inexpensive, effective and easy to use. Plexus can be bought from motorcycle shops or boating shops.