Industry Glossary

Paint Protection Film - A transparent, thermoplastic urethane film applied to painted surfaces of a vehicle to protect the paint from chips, scratches, and environmental damage.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane - The premium material used in high-quality PPF, offering self-healing properties, clarity, and long-term durability.

Thermoplastic Hybrid - A more affordable alternative to TPU, offering basic protection but with reduced durability and no self-healing properties.

Polyvinyl Chloride - A vinyl material commonly used in color change wraps and lower-cost protection films.

Visible Light Transmission - The percentage of visible light that passes through window film. Lower VLT means darker tint.

Infrared Rejection - The percentage of infrared radiation blocked by window film, responsible for heat reduction.

Ultraviolet Rejection - The percentage of ultraviolet radiation blocked, protecting interior from fading and skin from damage.

Total Solar Energy Rejected - The total percentage of solar energy blocked by window film, combining UV, visible, and infrared rejection.

The ability of TPU PPF to repair minor scratches and swirl marks when exposed to heat (sunlight or warm water).

Water-repellent property that causes water to bead and roll off the surface, making the vehicle easier to clean.

Original Equipment Manufacturer - Products made to the specifications of the original vehicle manufacturer.

Original Design Manufacturer - Products designed and manufactured by one company but branded and sold by another.

Minimum Order Quantity - The smallest number of units a supplier will sell in a single order.

A premium manufacturing process for vinyl films that produces superior conformability and dimensional stability.

A manufacturing process for vinyl films that is more cost-effective but has reduced conformability compared to cast film.

An advanced coating process that deposits metal particles onto film at the atomic level, creating superior optical clarity and performance.

Advanced window film technology using ceramic nanoparticles to block heat without interfering with electronic signals.

A unit of measurement equal to one-thousandth of an inch (0.001"), commonly used to specify PPF and film thickness.

Vehicle Identification Number - A unique 17-character code used to identify individual vehicles, often required for warranty registration.

A vinyl film applied to change the color or appearance of a vehicle, also known as color change wrap or vehicle wrap.