Paint Protection Film (PPF) Brief History.
Did you know that automotive paint protection film (PPF) was originated for military use?
This is true for paint protection film. In the mid-1950s during the Vietnam War, the military looked for a way to protect and extend the life of helicopter rotor blades. The rotor blades were being damaged by flying debris during landing and take-off.
The military received a solution for their problem in the form of protection film, a thermoplastic urethane that could be applied to rotor blades for protection without hindering performance. By installing protective film over the blades, the U.S. military was able to save large amounts of time and money. The film would take the damage instead of the blade, and the films could be replaced much more cheaply and easily than the rotor blades.
Fast forward to the 1980s PPF had also made its way into the automotive industry. Professional racing teams applied PPF to the front end of their race cars for protection against track rubber, road debris, and close contact driving.
Today’s automotive paint protection film has evolved into a high-quality thermoplastic urethane film that is applied to car-painted surfaces. PPF is made up of a few different layers, including a clear topcoat, urethane, acrylic adhesive layer, and a release liner.
PPF did an exceptional job of protecting anywhere it was applied. PPF is designed to stretch and contour over the curved surfaces of the front end of a vehicle to provide protection again roadway debris, parking-lot nicks, scratches, harmful UV rays that fade car paint, and many other elements that can damage your vehicle’s paint. PPF is highly resistant to acidic contaminants and corrosion, providing protection against bug splatter, bird droppings, mineral deposits, acid rain, and more. The unique material also helps it to reduce oxidization due to excessive exposure to the sun or UV light.
The PPF clear coat employs special elastomeric polymers that allow scratches on the surface to “heal” over time, eliminating the need for frequent polishing and minimizing future swirl marks. This makes PPF an amazing product. PPF fits seamlessly on the clear coat and is virtually invisible, all the while offering the very best protection for your car.
The Evolution Of PPF Continues
Every once in a while, a product comes along that seems to surprise everyone. Self-Healing PPF is one such surprising product. In 2011, XPEL revolutionized the industry with the world’s first self-healing paint protection film. In 2018, XPEL has raised the bar once again with the launch of XPEL Ultimate Plus, the most advanced vehicle ppf on the market with the highest anti-corrosion and durability film ever created.
Revolutionary PPF Products
We sell a variety of ppf product lines, each with its own unique characteristics, warranty, and intended use, including:
XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS: ULTIMATE PLUS is the flagship clear, thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU based product that is a self-healing, stain-resistant film with unmatched clarity and durability.
XPEL STEALTH: STEALTH is a satin-finished ppf, made with the same construction as ULTIMATE PLUS. STEALTH is designed to protect surfaces that already have a matte finish or to give otherwise glossy surfaces a matte finish.
XPEL RX: RX Protection Film protects a variety of surfaces including screens and other electronics and contains zinc ions which inhibit the growth of microbes on the film’s surface.
XPEL ARMOR: ARMOR is a thick PVC-based ppf that looks and performs like a spray-on Bedliner. It is designed to resist abrasions and punctures from the most aggressive terrain.
