History of Clear Bra Paint Protection Film
Clear Bra Paint Protection On Aircraft WingThe US military was in need of a durable and easy to install film that can protect the leading edges of air plane wings, nose and helicopter rotor blades from dust damage in desert environments. 3M was asked to come up with a solution and paint protection film was created. Paint protection film has gained popularity since it's evolution into the automotive industry.
Clear Bra Paint Protection Care and Maintenance
Plexus Plastic Polish and CleanerOnce applied, refrain from washing the vehicle for 24 hours. This will allow for the adhesive to cure and avoid lift ups. Washing after that time presents no problem, and no special care need be taken for the film.
When waxing the vehicle, some wax may build up along the film edges. This can be removed using a soft micro fiber cloth or Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol.
I personally never wax over the clear bra because of the wax build up around the film edges.
Do not use any waxes containing dyes, silicone or waxes that are not recommended for urethane. Abrasive polishes and/or rubbing compounds are not to be used.
Bird dropping and bug stains should be cleaned off immediately or they can damage or stain the clear bra. Most of these stains will get bleached out with the sun withing three to four weeks.
XPEL Protection Film - ULTIMATE
High Performance Ultra-Clear Clear-Coated Aliphatic Polyurethane Film
Technical Data Sheet – February 2011
General Description:
XPEL Protection Film - ULTIMATE is a patent pending high performance self adhesive clear-coated aliphatic polyurethane film designed
to protect automotive paint, and other surfaces, from harmful effects of stone chips and abrasion. It has exceptional elongation
properties for ease of application and this feature allows for single piece installations. XPEL Protection Film - ULTIMATE is a very
low surface energy film designed to resist staining and offers superior environmental resistance and gloss retention. The clear coat
employs special elastomeric polymers that allow scratches in the surface to “heal” over time, eliminating the need for frequent polishing
to maintain a just installed appearance. XPEL Protection Film - ULTIMATE is coated with ultra clear high performance acrylic adhesive
which has excellent adhesion on a broad range of surfaces, while resisting disturbances during installation.
Typical Applications:
Clear gloss polyurethane for stone chip protection, high wear and abrasion
Typical Industry Sectors:
Automotive, motorcycle, RV, powersports, bicycle, aircraft and most modes of transportation
Different Types of Paint Protection Films
Different layers of paint protection filmThe best clear bra paint protection films used for automotive applications are generally 8 mils thick and are composed of three layers. Top layer is 0.3 mils thick and consists of a high gloss clear coat finish to protect from dust and dirt built up in the pores of urethane film. The middle layer is 6 mils thick and consists of thermoplastic urethane which helps protect the surface from rock chips and road debris. The bottom layer is 2 mils thick and consists of a clear high-tack acrylic adhesive specially formulated to have high tack on smooth surface.
Some Manufacturers carry two versions of paint protection film. Coated film (top layer clear coat) which consists of three layers and a non coated film which consists of the urethane layer and adhesive only. The two layer film generally is less expensive but will get dull over a short period of time. I recommend selecting a clear bra paint protection film with a coated finish since it will keep its high gloss properties for at least 5 years.
Paint Protection and why its smart : To prevent rock chips and pitting on the front of the car, the traditional solution was to install a custom vinyl black bra or you just wait until the bumper is damaged enough and then paint it. Neither solution was very appealing. Now, there is an answer to all the problems of rock chips and road debris. It is generically called paint protection film. Several familiar names are in the business of making the film: X-pel Avery, 3M, Venture, Llumar. The original developer of the film was 3M and it was used in the Korean War to protect helicopter rotor blades. 3M later redesigned it for application to the front bumpers and hoods of vehicles.
With an enhancement in design to adapt the film for the auto industry, the idea took off. The concept was unbeatable. Car owners could now apply the film to bumpers and hoods, and drive the vehicle anywhere without worrying about getting a rock chip in their $100,000 Ferrari. Initially, each installation was custom cut from a bulk roll and carefully applied to the paint. It was time consuming and required lots of experience. The idea took a while to trickle down into the main stream vehicles. As demand increased for the protection, new companies sprung up design kits that could be cut out on a plotter and applied to the car. Hence, another segment of the paint protection film industry was born. The last piece of the puzzle was to have a network of independent, trained installers. Unfortunately, the industry suffers from a lack of skilled technicians.
Most films in the industry carry a 5 year warranty against discoloring or clarity factors related to the film becoming cloudy or opaque. More of a problem of earlier automotive films, this was one of the initial problems. On aircraft, the film is removed every year, and replaced with a new piece. On a vehicle, most people wanted a protection that did not need to be removed and reapplied so the manufacturers went to work to redesign the film to maintain its clarity for 5 years plus. Now films come with a 7 year to lifetime warranty on the clarity stability.
The film has never had problems with its adhesion principles. It does not peel off or peel back. While the film does not require any special treatment, it should be cared for through regular waxing. Also, keeping the car in the garage at night will extend the shine of the film as well as the vehicles paint job. All the film requires is basically good vehicle maintenance. That should include waxing the car 3 to 4 times a year and regular weekly or biweekly washes.
The benefits of paint protection film:
The paint protection film solved all the negatives of the vinyl bras and improved the benefits of having one. Utilizing the black vinyl bra is just a hassle to put on and take off. Worse, the bras would damage the paint where it was rubbing, and frankly, now they are not very fashionable. The paint protection film is nearly undetectable on the paint, the film does not damage the paint, and it does not require removal for washes.
Perhaps the most unique benefit of the film, aside from its durability against rock chips and road damage, is that you cannot see the protection on the car. It is on the vehicle all the time, rain or shine, ready to repel rocks and pitting.
Overall, the film is more effective at preventing rock chips and road debris than anything else. Unlike the paint, when the rocks hit the film, they just bounce off. It does not get marred up and scuffed from the day in and out driving. Over a 3 to 4 year period, the film not only maintains its clarity, but it does not get damaged and worn out. Another plus is that with the paint protection film in place, it still allows the paint to fade at the same rate as the rest of the car.
The ideal customer for the film is someone who cares about keeping up their car. Secondly, the daily commuter will fully utilize the film every day they get on the freeway. Lastly, this film is for the car owner who keeps their vehicle longer than 5 years and is concerned about maintaining the vehicles resale value at high blue book.
When shopping around for an installer, look for a company with experience. Good work is never cheap and cheap work is never good. Anyone can buy the film. The quality of the job can vary widely and there are a lot of people who try out the industry and find out how difficult it really is. It takes years to become competent with installations. After all, the last thing you want to do is invest lots of money into a new car and then skimp on the quality job. Once the film is professionally installed, it will not require any further maintenance.
On the subject of price, this service is never cheap. The average coverage on the bumper alone can range from $350 to $450. Think of this as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Most bumper repaints will run into the $1000's range.
As a consumer you can purchase pre-cut clear bra paint protection kits for your type of vehicle and have it installed by a professional or install it your self.
A standard automotive paint protection clear bra package will include partial coverage on the hood, fenders, mirrors and bumper.
Premium automotive paint protection clear bra package will include full coverage on the hood, fenders, mirrors, bumper and headlights. This package is usually available for high end vehicles and newer models only.
Additional Clear Bra Paint Protection Coverage Areas
Rocker panels
Rear wheel Arches
Front of rear wheel splash guards
A-Pillars and leading edge of the roof
Rear bumper top