GUARD · KNOW YOUR FILM

WHAT IS PPF?

Paint protection film is a clear, flexible layer that takes the stone chips, scuffs and scratches so your paint doesn't. Here's what it's made of, what "8.5 mil" actually means, and how it sticks.

01WHAT IT IS

A CLEAR LAYER THAT TAKES THE HIT.

PPF is a thin, clear sheet of polyurethane with an adhesive on the back. It goes on over your paint, on the panels that take the most punishment.

When a stone, branch or fingernail hits, the film absorbs it instead of your clear coat. If the film gets badly marked, you replace that piece. The paint underneath stays as it was.

A GUARD kit gives you the film already cut to the shape of each panel, with the release liner still on.

THE FILM · WHAT COMES IN THE KIT

TOPCOATSELF-HEALS, BEADS WATER

TPU FILMCLEAR, FLEXIBLE, TAKES THE HIT

ADHESIVEPRESSURE-SENSITIVE

RELEASE LINERPEELED OFF FIRST

YOUR VEHICLE'S PAINT

CLEAR COATTHE FACTORY TOP LAYER

BASE COATTHE COLOUR

PRIMER

BODY PANELSTEEL OR ALUMINIUM

SECTION · NOT TO SCALE · LAYERS VARY BY FILM

NO FILMSTONE CHIPS THROUGH TO PRIMER

WITH PPFFILM TAKES THE HIT · PAINT INTACT

SCHEMATIC. FILM REDUCES DAMAGE FROM EVERYDAY IMPACTS; IT DOESN'T MAKE PAINT IMMUNE TO IT.

02THICKNESS

8.5 MIL ISN'T 8.5 MM.

Film thickness is measured in mil: thousandths of an inch. Not millimetres. One mil is 0.0254 mm, or 25.4 microns (µm).

So when you see 7.5 or 8.5 mil, that's about 0.2 mm. Roughly two sheets of printer paper. You'll see the edge of the film if you look for it, but it won't change the look of your vehicle.

1 MIL= 1/1000 INCH = 0.0254 MM = 25.4 µm 7.5 MIL≈ 0.191 MM 8.5 MIL≈ 0.216 MM

0.191 MM191 µm · ≈ 2 SHEETS OF PRINTER PAPER

CREDIT CARD0.76 MM

PPF · 7.5 MIL0.191 MM

PRINTER PAPER · 80 GSM≈ 0.10 MM

HUMAN HAIR · TYPICAL≈ 0.07 MM

FACTORY CLEAR COAT≈ 0.04–0.05 MM

BARS TO SCALE, AGAINST A CREDIT CARD. HAIR AND CLEAR COAT VARY.

THICKER ISN'T AUTOMATICALLY BETTERThicker film soaks up more of an impact, but it's stiffer to stretch around curves and edges. It's a balance, not a race.

ASK WHAT THE NUMBER INCLUDESSome brands quote only the TPU, others add the topcoat and adhesive. The release liner comes off and should never be counted.

OUR FILMWe'll publish the exact thickness of both GUARD films, and what it includes, once our supplier confirms the final spec.

03WHY TPU

THE STUFF IT'S MADE OF MATTERS.

Modern PPF is made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane): a tough, clear plastic that stretches and springs back. Older and cheaper films often use PVC, which is stiffer and doesn't age as well. These are the properties to look for.

SCRATCHHEATGONE

SELF-HEALING TOPCOATFine swirls and light scratches in the topcoat close up with heat: a warm day or warm water. Deep cuts through the film won't.

NO COATINGHYDROPHOBIC

HYDROPHOBICWater beads up and runs off instead of sitting flat, so dust and mud have less to stick to and washing is easier.

OLDER FILMALIPHATIC TPU

NON-YELLOWINGGood TPU films use aliphatic polyurethane with UV stabilisers, which resists turning yellow in the sun. Older films can go yellow and brittle.

FLEXIBLETPU stretches over curves like mirror caps and bumpers, then holds its shape. It stays flexible in the cold, so it doesn't crack.

TPU FILMPVC FILM STRETCHStretches around curves and springs back.Stiffer. Harder to get around curves.SELF-HEALINGCommon, with the right topcoat.No.SUNLIGHTAliphatic TPU with UV stabilisers resists yellowing.More likely to yellow over time.COLD & AGEStays flexible.Can shrink, harden and crack.TYPICAL USEPaint protection film.Cheaper, short-term wraps and decals.

TYPICAL BEHAVIOUR. EXACT PERFORMANCE DEPENDS ON THE SPECIFIC FILM.

04HOW IT STICKS

PUT ON WET. HELD ON DRY.

The back of the film has a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Applied dry, it would grab the moment it touched the paint, with no second chances.

So it goes on wet. A slip solution (mostly water) lets the piece float, so you can slide it into position. Then you squeegee the water out, and the adhesive bonds to the clear coat as the last of the moisture dries.

WET · IT SLIDESSLIP SOLUTION UNDER THE FILM

DRY · IT HOLDSADHESIVE BONDED TO THE CLEAR COAT

01CLEAN

Wash and dry the panel. Anything left on the paint ends up under the film.

02WET IT

Spray slip solution on the panel and on the adhesive side as you peel the liner.

03POSITION

Slide the numbered piece into place. Pre-cut pieces sit a small margin inside the panel edges.

04SQUEEGEE

Work from the centre out to push the water and air to the edges.

05LEAVE IT

The bond builds over the next few days. Your kit's guide gives the exact times.

OVERVIEW ONLY. EVERY KIT COMES WITH ITS OWN PRINTED FITTING GUIDE. STEP-BY-STEP VIDEOS ARE BEING FILMED.

05STRAIGHT ANSWERS

WHAT PPF WON'T DO.

01Make paint indestructible. A big enough hit can still damage the film or the paint under it.

02Fix damage that's already there. Chips and scratches under the film stay visible, so fix them first.

03Cover every edge. Pre-cut pieces stop a small margin short of panel edges and gaps.

04Last forever. Film is a wear layer: when a piece is worn out, you replace that piece.

CAN YOU SEE IT?From normal distance, hardly. Up close you'll see the edge of each piece if you look for it.

WILL IT DAMAGE MY PAINT WHEN IT COMES OFF?On factory paint in good condition, film is designed to peel off with gentle heat. Resprayed panels are a risk: weak paint can lift.

CAN I FIT IT MYSELF?Yes. Take your time, work clean, and start with smaller pieces like mirrors and door cups. Or hand the kit to a fitter.

HOW DO I LOOK AFTER IT?Wash it like paint, with a pH-neutral shampoo. Don't aim a pressure washer straight at the edges. Your kit's guide covers the rest.

FIND THE KIT FOR YOUR VEHICLE.