Lubrizol Estane® Aliphatic TPU (Paint Protection Film)

Lubrizol was founded on a commitment to unlock science to improve lives. As a solutions partner, Lubrizol brings market and consumer insights, material science expertise and technology know-how to the table to expand the possibilities and drive new innovations.

Lubrizol views innovation as a progression, perpetually pushing forward from the current generation to advance materials and elevate performance well into the future with a strong focus on creating smarter solutions for customers and value chain partners.

The polymer known as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was invented in 1959 and commercialized as ESTANE® TPU by BFGoodrich’s specialty chemicals business, which became part of The Lubrizol Corporation in 2004, complementing Lubrizol’s long legacy in specialty polymers and formulating know-how. Harnessing deep materials science expertise, Lubrizol’s Engineered Polymers business has led the advancement of TPU to elevate the performance of industrial and consumer goods through surface protection and other key applications.

ESTANE® TPU revolutionized the market by bridging the gap between flexible rubber and rigid plastics, and is widely recognized as the benchmark for TPU performance in terms of long-lasting beauty and surface integrity.  TPU has application in a wide range of products and industries. For more than 30 years it has been a key performance-enabling ingredient in paint protection film (PPF). Across the world, PPF is used to protect automotive exterior surfaces from weathering, scratches, chips from flying rocks and road debris, corrosive pollution such as acid rain, and daily wear and tear. But TPU is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it is carefully customized for the applications it serves.

THE BASICS OF TPU CHEMISTRY
There are several recognized building blocks for the chemistries of hard and soft segments of TPU. Hard segments TPU can be either:

• Aromatic, which are typically used when durability and strength are paramount but extreme UV resistance with non-yellowing performance is not essential to the application.
• Aliphatic, which will not yellow or become brittle as a consequence of long-term UV exposure and which are capable of exceptional transparency, self-healing properties and chemical resistance.

Lubrizol Estane® PPF is crafted using the latest advancements in Aliphatic TPU technology, setting a new standard in the industry. As a market leader, Lubrizol has surpassed previous benchmarks, ensuring that the film not only excels in performance but also offers unparalleled protection for the vehicle’s paint.

It performs to the level of which it is fully capable and delivers three primary performance attributes:

1. AESTHETICS to ensure a “like new” vehicle finish even after years of exposure to the environment and harsh road conditions.
   • Key attribute:
     • Optical clarity. The film is crystal clear to let the beauty of the original surface shine through, enabling retention of the pristine showroom appearance without discoloration or yellowing.
2. DURABILITY to provide exceptional long-term performance.
   • Key attributes:
     • Impact resistance. The formulation of the polymer ensures the PPF  prevents paint chips by withstanding flying debris and other impacts.
     • Weatherability. The Aliphatic TPU enables the PPF to stand up to the harshest weather conditions, particularly extreme UV and heat exposure. At the same time, these conditions do not compromise the PPF’s original optical clarity or its stretch properties. This allows for trouble-free removal without breaking or tearing into small pieces, avoiding additional labor costs and risk of damage to the original underlying finish.
     • Self-healing and resistance to stains. Lubrizol Estane® PPF can impart stain resistance and has the ability to erase fine scratches through exposure to heat, such as from sunlight.
3. CONFORMABILITY to ensure the PPF has consistent stretch properties for mating to the surface with ease, accommodating the most complex and intricate vehicle geometries.
   • Key attributes:
     • Ease of installation. The Estane TPU works to ensure the PPF is flexible and reliably easy to install without accidentally overstretching the topcoat. This maintains efficient use of labor resources during installation and minimizes unintended waste or impact to quality of the finished installation.
     • Low-temperature flexibility. The Estane TPU ensures that the PPF conforms easily to complex shapes and surfaces in the absence of a temperature-controlled installation environment.

• Maintaining the Beauty of a Vehicle’s Finish

  On the surface, a hard grade of ESTANE® TPU provides stain resistance and self-healing properties. While beneath the surface, the soft grade beneath absorbs impact from stones and road debris.