Over the past month this series covered why colored PPF delaminates, the three film structures on the market, plasticizers, and the aliphatic-vs-aromatic question. Here it all is, condensed into seven questions. Print them, paste them into an email, ask them on a call — a supplier’s reaction to this list tells you as much as the answers.
The Checklist
1. What is the base layer under the color made of?
TPU, PU, or nothing — with pigment sitting straight on the adhesive? This is where budget films hide their savings, and where delamination starts.
2. Is the TPU aliphatic or aromatic?
Three-second answer, years of difference. Aromatic yellows under UV; aliphatic is the premium standard.
3. How are the layers joined — fused or glued?
Heat-fused layers behave as one material. Lamination adds an extra adhesive boundary that can age and fail.
4. Does the film contain plasticizers, and what share?
Migrating plasticizers are the classic cause of yellowing, tackiness and adhesive residue on removal.
5. What is the thickness of each layer — not just the total?
A thick total can hide a thin working layer. Suppliers confident in their construction publish per-layer numbers.
6. Can you share test data?
Thermal cycling, UV chamber hours, delamination testing after stretch. “Trust us” is not a test report.
7. What exactly does the warranty cover — and for how long?
Yellowing? Delamination? Edge lifting? A warranty that names failure modes is worth more than a longer one that names none. Ours is spelled out here: 8-year warranty terms.
How to Use It
You do not need a materials science degree — you need a supplier who answers all seven without changing the subject. Specific answers mean engineering; vague answers mean marketing. If you want to see how we answer these questions for our own films, our datasheets are linked on every product page, from Color PPF to Gloss. Or just send the checklist to info@bodyguardfilms.com — we will fill it in for you.