Did you know that today’s modern automotive paint protection film was initially developed for military applications dating back to the Vietnam War?
During the 1960s, the US Department of Defense was experiencing problems with helicopter propeller blades and other sensitive military equipment being damaged by debris or flying shrapnel.
This inspired them to contact the 3M corporation to develop a protective layer that was transparent and lightweight.
As a result, the U.S military worked together with 3M on a film protective technology that would be lightweight, durable, and cost-efficient alternative to replacing the entire rotor blade (for that matter, the whole helicopter). Their solution was developing a customized urethane film (or commonly referred to as helicopter tape). In 1970, the U.S military expanded its use of Urethane coat, starting to install it on the noses of its fighter jets. Thanks to the effectiveness and success of this technology, 3M still produces various types of Urethane films for military and aerospace purposes.
So Urethane technology (the compound that makes up PPF or Clear Bra) first appears during the Vietnam War.
In 1980, NASCAR discovered how Urethane technology could be a useful addition in protecting the front of its racing stock cars. As we know, advertisers pay a lot of money to stick their emblems on the front of a racing car, and of course, none of them are interested in seeing them getting destroyed during a race.
In the 90s, Urethane film lining became available to the general public as a means to protect their cars from natural paint wear and tear. Since then, the underlying technology has been tweaked and perfected while enthusiastically being welcomed by the automotive industry. Today, Paint Protection Film is approved by almost all car manufacturers.
Post time: Feb-28-2020