Over the entire period of operation of the car, scratches and chips on body parts are becoming commonplace. Most affected here are the wings, hood and bumper, related to the front of the vehicle. It is in order to protect them from damage in the first place, and a protective film is installed on the car. The anti-gravel transparent coating can be cast vinyl (PVC) or polyurethane, its thickness can vary from 100 to 200 microns. Each of these materials has both pluses and minuses.
Features of vinyl material
The service life of PVC film is about 8 years. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it can be used to paste over details of any complexity, even as a whole. Such a transparent protective film will perfectly fall on the thresholds of the car. Its thickness is 100 microns. Despite the small thickness, it stretches perfectly and perfectly protects the car body from reagents and mechanical damage. It is applicable mainly for urban environments and for long-term both partial and complex pasting.
Features of polyurethane film
Polyurethane material of such a plan is stronger and thicker than vinyl, but also surpasses the latter at a price. Its service life is 4-5, sometimes 7 years. Its thickness is 100-250 microns. Such a protective film for a car is appreciated due to its good elastic qualities and thickness, which allows you to best protect the body of the "iron horse" from damage. Of course, due to its special composition and high density, film operation cannot occur on complex geometric surfaces. She also does not paste over the entire car.
Often such a plan is used as a protective film on the headlights of the car, which is one of its most vulnerable places. Before applying to the work surface using a specially prepared contour-template, the plotter cuts out the required amount of material, and only then it is applied to parts and sections of the unit. Most often, the film is used with existing intense mechanical stress.
The protective film on the car will protect the body from chips
Anti-gravel film material makes it possible to keep the car paintwork in proper form, so that in the future there will be no need for its restoration, which will significantly save money. In addition, it is quickly and easily dismantled without any trace.
Especially popular is the service of covering the car body with a protective film for owners of new vehicles who are eager to maintain the perfect factory paint for as long as possible. Installation of anti-gravel material is carried out in a very short time, sometimes just a few hours is enough. Professionals will process the wings, bumper, hood, strut and even mirrors with high quality.
Why is gluing a car with a protective film?
Thanks to modern methods of applying the material, the task of 100% coverage of the car has become feasible. This technology is resorted to if you need to pay attention to especially often the weak spots of the unit. Increasingly, a polyurethane or vinyl protective film on a car is used in order to prevent chips on the body of the transport unit. The properties of the materials are ideally suited to be used for installation on devices that are used even in extreme weather conditions.
Most often, the hood suffers from chips. Its front part is damaged from small stones that quickly fall into it while riding, which fly out from under the wheels of oncoming cars. Therefore, experts recommend first of all to take care of the protection of the paintwork of this part. It is best to paste it over completely, but if you want to save money, it will be enough to process only the front part, somewhere around 50-60 cm.
general information
The thickness of the film material for the body is 100-150 microns, which corresponds to 0.1 mm. After a series of works on laminating it at a distance of 1-2 meters, it is completely not noticeable. A vehicle with protection is no different from a traditional one.
Scope of the film
All types of anti-gravel films have a special special adhesive composition. It is designed for the purpose of qualitatively covering parts with a glossy surface, slightly rough or slightly matte. It is important to know that the adhesive composition of the material is quite weak, and sometimes its thickness may not be enough to penetrate the rough layers of the matte surface. That is why the adhesion characteristics are minimal when compared with glossy material. It is best to entrust the car with a protective film of any kind to professionals.
Life time
Protective transparent film material from the time of installation will last an average of 5-7 years. It is advisable to install it immediately after acquiring a new transport unit or used, but with a paint and varnish coating in good condition. Delay with this decision is not worth it. If the installation of a material such as a protective film on a car is delayed, then there is a risk of getting a lot of microcracks on the car body.
Benefits of using a protective film
The use of film material is possible on any transport part - a threshold, a headlight, a hood, wheel arches, wings and other elements. More difficult is pasting the car with a protective film on the bumper section due to the presence of many hemispherical parts and bends. But this difficulty is surmountable, the material stretches well and makes it possible to process even the most difficult parts of the unit without seams.
Currently, many motorists install special protective deflectors on the hood against gravel damage, popularly referred to as the "fly swatter". But if the film material is installed, then there is no need for additional protection. Over time, a clear vinyl or polyurethane coating is easily removed and leaves no residue. Also among its advantages include resistance to chemical influences, UV protection and the presence of water-repellent properties.