Window Film 101: Everything You Need To Know

There is a great deal of information you should know about window film.

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In this section we will cover:

• What is Window Film?
• Why Window Film: Benefits of Window Film
• What Are The Types of Window Film?
• How Durable is Window Film?
• How Long Does Window Film Last?
• What Types of Windows Can You Install Window Film On?

What is Window Film?

Window film is a polyester coating that is applied to glass. It is most commonly used to reduce the amount of sunlight that passes through the glass. When used for this purpose in vehicles, it is often referred to as window tint. (Note, we don&#;t do automobiles.)

Every type of window film uses a polyester film as its base material. Polyester film is produced from the polymer Polyethylene Terephthalate, or more commonly known as PET. 

PET is manufactured by combining terephthalic acid and monoethylene glycol, which are derived from petroleum.

PET films are used successfully in a wide range of applications other than window film due to an excellent combination of optical and physical characteristics. Although the final product is quite thin, polyester base films have unequaled strength and toughness while providing excellent stability when exposed to various temperatures, moistures, and solvents during the window film manufacturing process.

Light reduction is far from the only application that window film is used for in automotive and architectural applications. In addition to light-reducing window film, there are films used to reduce heat and glare, and even prevent storm or vandalism damage. 

Why Window Film: Benefits of Window Film?

Whether it&#;s your home, office, or car, window film provides various benefits. The benefits include improving your health, personal safety, privacy, and energy conservation. 

Once you understand the positive life-changing aspects of having window film installed, we are positive you will want to contact us to start you on the path to having window film in your life. To learn more about the individual advantages of having window film installed, review the topics below.

1. Benefits &#; General

By choosing a product that complements the existing elements of your building, Window Film can enhance the existing appearance. For commercial buildings, window films can help to create a modern and uniform appearance to the glass.

If your interest is in energy savings, many types of new windows can be installed to achieve energy conservation. However, window film can achieve the same results at a lower cost. Unlike most building retrofit projects undertaken, you will find that the window film installation is a minor disruption to your busy life. No moving out, no need to not use a certain room for a period of time. Professional installation is fast and easy.

A major concern these days is personal safety. By nature, glass is a dangerous product. Most glass types will shatter when they break. Any window film installed on any glass type will help to keep the fragments intact. This helps to reduce the potential danger of flying glass fragments and large pieces.

Some window film products can be installed to reduce the ability to see inside your building or home. This is an added benefit against vandalism and possible theft. By reducing the view outside the windows, the potential intruder is not enticed to steal your belongings.

2. Enhanced Appearance and Protection

Whether it&#;s a contemporary look or a uniform design that is desired, there&#;s a variety of window film options that can aesthetically enhance the exterior of your home, office, or automobile. From virtually invisible films to darker colors, there&#;s a range of shades to give you the look you want.

All of our window film products, whether designed for residential, commercial, or automobiles, contain the highest levels of UV protection. This allows the films to reject up to 99% of harmful UV rays.

Have you ever wondered about the effects the sun has on your skin? Even during everyday activities like driving your car, standing by a window or going outside, you are exposed to harmful UVA rays. Is this why most of us have the habit of applying sunscreen? Think of window film as sunscreen for your home or office. Window film blocks UVA rays, giving you a layer of protection from skin cancer and visual impairment. While you apply sunscreen when you plan to be outside for long periods of time, have you ever thought that when performing the simple daily activities of driving your vehicle or standing next to a window, the sun streaming in can also damage your skin? By stopping virtually all of the UV rays, window film provides an effective &#;sunscreen&#; for your skin against the harmful effects of the sun, including but not limited to skin cancer and vision impairment.

3. Not Only for Automobiles

Automotive tinting is by far the most widely known application of window film. Most drivers want to reduce glare while driving and protect their vehicle&#;s interior from fading. As we drive around town, we always see companies advertising automobile window tinting. Did you ever think that the same kind of product might bring advantages to your building? At ClimatePro, we&#;ve never done a single automobile; we focus only on residential and commercial buildings, and for good reason.

Your car is not the largest investment you will ever make; that&#;s reserved for real estate. Whether it&#;s a commercial building, your home, office, or a rental unit, real estate is an investment worth protecting. Why not give the largest investment you will ever make the protection it deserves? If you are interested in privacy, safety, energy savings, or appearance, the benefits of window film are numerous. It will bring the same superior levels of protection with a greater return on investment.

The temperature changes that buildings experience are slower and felt more by humans than the changes in your car. Sure, your cars get hot. But you can quickly change the temperature in your car by leaving the windows open or turning on the AC.  

However, buildings are not conducive to quick temperature change. Automobiles are small spaces with limited amounts of air which allows air to circulate more quickly. As we all know, trying to cool or even heat a building in which the HVAC has gone out takes quite a while. Adding the right kind of window film on a structure will assist in preventing the amount of heat or cold that escapes from windows.

4. Energy Savings

One of the biggest benefits of window tint, particularly in homes or commercial buildings, is energy efficiency. The two times of the year when energy bills skyrocket are typically the height of summer and the dead of winter. Window tint can&#;t stop the heat or cold, but it can reduce the amount of sunlight and energy coming into the building. The film manages to accomplish this by reflecting ultraviolet rays from the sun. This can significantly decrease the interior temperature during the summer months. In the winter, the tint can work to reflect heat back into the building. This can result in lower heating costs. 

5. Fading & Glare Protection/Reduction

The sun&#;s rays can also be harmful to both people and furniture. Tinted windows can help to reduce this damage by blocking the UV rays. Left unchallenged, these rays can cause furniture and upholstery to fade. Not to mention the damage that the sun can do to unprotected skin, including increasing the risk of skin cancer.

1. 6. It&#;s Fast and Easy

Installing window film on a building is not as time-consuming as some other retrofit improvements you might undertake. Replacing windows to achieve higher energy savings can cost thousands of dollars for the windows alone. Not to mention the installation costs, the invasive practice of removing old windows, and the cost of inside and outside window trim replacements.

The process of window replacement could leave your building potentially open to the elements. Also, inclement weather could extend the length of the project. There is the potential for damage to any parts of the building exposed during the installation.

Window film can be installed either on the interior or the exterior of your structure. This depends upon the required access and the type of product you choose. Residential and Commercial or Safety products are installed without window removal. The product is applied to the existing glass surface like a surface coating.

After the installation is complete, you will have immediate access to all areas. The only caution you&#;ll receive pertains to the curing process. It&#;s important not to clean your windows until the adhesive curing process has been completed. This normally happens within 30&#;45 days after installation. What could be easier?

You can immediately feel the improvement in heat reduction and still have the crystal clear views you had before. The added benefit of minimal downtime during the installation process means that you can get back to your routine. The benefits to your family and investment are clear. 

7. Temperature Imbalances

Window film helps to eliminate troublesome temperature imbalances inside your home or building. Those uncomfortable cold or hot zones from shaded or sun-exposed areas can be a thing of the past. The right window film helps to minimize temperature fluctuations and make your rooms a pleasure to spend time in. You&#;ll also find that the window film will pay for itself as your utility bills and energy costs are reduced.

Window film can provide up to 82% solar energy rejection versus untreated glass. By controlling the overall unwanted interior heat from the sun, window film helps create a more comfortable interior while reducing cooling costs.

Windows are the heart of your home or building.  Today modern architecture has evolved to incorporate our natural desire for more natural light. However, the increased natural light has a downside &#; the increased solar heat coming through your windows. While visually appealing, the building is now uncomfortable to be in. The application of window film will not only maintain the natural light and crystal clear views you are used to, but it will also reduce the amount of solar heat that comes through the windows. Whether installed in your home or office, window film will improve your experience inside of any building.

8. Like Sunglasses for Your Windows

Our bodies require sunlight to produce and use certain vitamins and minerals. At the same time, too much of this vital resource can damage our eyes and skin. We need the sun to warm our atmosphere so that life can be maintained, but too much heat is uncomfortable.

While sunlight is vital to our existence, it is also dangerous. The application of window film on your glass still allows an amount of both sunlight and heat to be felt while reducing the dangers. Think of it like the sunblock you put on when you are outside or the sunglasses you use when driving. Why not get sunglasses for all your glass panes and see the change in your lifestyle? The cost per square foot of window installed won&#;t cost more than a set of cheap sunglasses and will come with a return on investment that is almost impossible to measure.

Related Articles: Window Tinting Price Guide

9. Scratch and Breakage Prevention

Many businesses and property owners have experienced firsthand the damage caused by graffiti. This is unsightly and expensive, causing damage to the business or properties&#; reputation. Graffiti window film is a great way to protect and prevent this damage. In addition, it allows for the quick removal of graffiti, helping to reduce costs and keep up appearances. These films are applied to the exterior of the glass. 

Window film can also help hold glass together in case of accidental or intentional breakage. This creates a strong barrier to keep people out of your home or building. It also protects people from broken glass.

10. Privacy and Protection

Another great benefit of window tint is the privacy that it provides. Standard window tints make it harder to see into a building. This inherently increases the privacy of the building. However, there are window tints designed specifically with privacy in mind (frosted windows are a great example of this). The energy-saving benefits of window film are apparent, but the added privacy that tinted windows provide is a reason to consider making the change.

Related Article: Nighttime and Daytime Privacy is it Possible?

Window Film Types

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Metallized PET Film Supplier.

There is a wide variety of window films and tints depending on the application; some have no tint at all, such as our safety, graffiti, and spectrally selective films.

• Reflective Film: Reflective film is the most common type of window film in residential and commercial settings. This type of film absorbs and reflects the energy from the sun and other light sources that would normally pass through glass.

• Dual Reflective Film: Dual reflective film works much in the same way that ordinary reflective film does. The primary difference is that this film absorbs the energy passing both ways through the glass. This means that both the amount of light traveling into and out of the applied window is reduced.

• Neutral Film: This film reduces the amount of heat entering a home without changing the look of windows. This helps to reduce cooling costs without sacrificing the amount of natural light coming into your home.

• Spectrally Selective Film: The spectrally selective film differs from the more conventional solar film. The chemistry that is rejecting solar energy does not use shading or reflectivity that is visible to our eyes. These films have been engineered to allow the maximum transmission of visible light while rejecting the maximum amount of UV and Infra-Red wavelengths. This results in a product that begins by not impeding our view of the beautiful landscape we have invested in. It improves our visibility of the landscape by reducing glare.

• Insulating Film: Conventional applied solar control window film reduces solar heat gain and decreases the use of cooling energy. However, in cold weather months, it fails to take full advantage of the sun&#;s warmth, offsetting summer energy savings with increased winter energy use. Low-E window film combines the solar control functions of a standard film with the insulating power of low emissivity (Low-E) coating. Previously, this benefit has been available only as part of a factory-produced unit. Adding insulation, which improves efficiency in all seasons, compensates for diminished solar heat gain in the colder months

• Safety and Security Film:  In addition to films that protect from light and heat, films are also available to protect from accidental or intentional impact by a foreign object.  While glass may still break after an impact from an object, the film can help to prevent shattering and keep the glass in place. In the event of a storm or an earthquake, this reduces the risk of injury due to flying glass. In the case of a home invasion, criminals may be deterred if a window or glass door does not immediately break.

• Anti-Graffiti Film: Commercial, industrial, and government facilities can benefit from anti-graffiti film. This film can help reduce the time and resources needed to remove graffiti manually.

• Decorative Film: These can be used to add patterns to windows or even increase the privacy of a home or office building. Frosted or colored window tints can provide privacy while also being an appealing addition.

Window Film Durability

Many window film providers offer a warranty of up to 15 years for commercial installations and a lifetime warranty for homeowners (as long as you own the home). Depending on the film type, glass type, window construction, and the location of the building, some professionally installed window films can last well past their warranties. 

Most factory warranties will cover issues such as;

• Peeling
• Bubbling
• Rippling
• Cracking
• Adhesive failure

Since we&#;ve been in business for forty-plus years, we&#;ve seen many projects and window film types over the years. While the warranties offered with these products are extensive, some other factors should be considered in terms of their lifetime and durability. 

What Is Not Covered?

Almost all window films come with extensive manufactured warranties that cover the failure of the product prematurely. However, they do not cover things such as wear and tear, scratches, or damage caused by the homeowner or user, abrasive cleaning methods, or products.

Window film manufacturers apply a scratch-resistant coating on almost all of their film products. It&#;s applied to the top of the film during the manufacturing process. Its purpose is to protect the film from minor abrasions and cleaning solvents. Some window film manufacturers take more time and effort to make better scratch-resistant coatings which in turn increases the durability and lifespan of the window film.

How Long Does Window Film Last?

As we discussed previously, there are many different types of window film for various purposes. Not only do these window films serve different purposes they&#;re also made of different materials which affect the lifespan of certain products.

The length of time that window film lasts also varies depending on the application. Some factors are;

• Interior or exterior applications
• The orientation of the installation, i.e., an east-facing window with window film, may last longer than a south-facing window.
• Is the application vertical or horizontal, such as skylights and atrium windows
• Was the window film properly installed in the first place, with the appropriate installation methods and sealant?

These are just some of the factors to consider when determining the lifespan of a window film. In most situations, you determine the estimated lifespan by examining the window film manufacturer-backed warranty.

What Types of Windows Can You Install Window Film On?

Glass is designed to act as a barrier from exterior elements (i.e., wind, rain, and snow) while providing a natural view of the outside world. When solar energy or sunlight, composed of heat, light, and UV rays hits an untreated window, almost 90% of the energy is transmitted through the glass that&#;s why your home or business gets warm on hot days.

In contrast, once a solar control window film is applied to glass, nearly 80% of solar energy can be blocked. The special dyes, metals, or thin nanotechnology within the film, act as a solar energy barrier by either absorbing or reflecting a percentage of the energy from passing through the glass.

The level of absorption and reflectance is dependent on how the film is constructed. Dyed films contain no metal and are considered non-reflective because they absorb solar energy. They are not as effective in controlling solar heat and light because they do not provide any solar reflectance. On the other hand, metalized or spectrally selective films provide both solar absorption and reflectance. They do a much better job of solar control since their construction properties control both heat and light from passing through the glass surface.

Understanding these key points guides what type of windows you can install a window film or a tint on. In reality, almost any kind of window or glass can be treated with window film. The key is selecting the right window film, as not all window films are compatible or recommended for every type of window. It&#;s as simple as that. It&#;s best to contact us for help with recommendations. We can help you select the correct product for your window and application.

Window film can be applied to the following window type of windows;

• Single pane or monolithic windows
• Dual-pane or insulated windows
• Laminated windows
• Tempered glass 
• Skylights and atrium windows

Testing a newly developed packaging is essential to ensure that the packaging serves its requirements in every situation. The external packaging often needs to sustain a lot of physical and mechanical stress. They also have to ensure that perishables remain fresh until the packaging is opened. To monitor how a packaging behaves under different kinds of stress, flexible packaging testing is quite important. Testing procedures for film and flexible packaging are quite different than testing for rigid packaging. For flexible packaging, a lot of extra parameters need to be tested too, such as barrier properties, flex crack resistance, seal strength and so on. There are government approved standard tests for testing flexible packaging. Here are some of the flexible packaging testing methodologies:

Flexible Packaging Testing for the Material of Construction

The flexible packaging materials testing checks the physical and chemical properties of the materials that are used to make flexible packaging. For example, flexible packaging films like ordinary cling film or shrink film goes through the tests that include tensile strength, elongation, surface energy, elastic modulus, moisture vapor, and oxygen transmission rate, heat sealing strength, heat sealing conditions and so on. The chemical properties testing generally involve checking its reactivity with the food items or products that it will contain under different conditions.

#1. Dimension Testing

The flexible packaging testing for dimensions checks the size of the packaging before and after it is filled. Flexible packaging changes its shape based on the contents inside. Therefore, it is quite essential to check the packaging both when it is empty and when it is filled. The standard tests include testing the length, breadth, and depth. Dimension testing also involves testing the grammage of the film used to manufacture the packaging. We commonly measure grammage as grams per square meter or GSM. Higher GSM numbers imply a denser and heavier film. GSM inversely correlates with the yield. The yield of a film determines much surface area unit weight of the packaging will cover. It&#;s measured in square meters per kilogram &#; just the opposite of GSM. Dimension testing is essential since, in a lot of cases, manufacturers use assembly lines to fill the packaging. To ensure that the packaging can integrate seamlessly with the assembly line, dimension testing is done.

#2. Testing for Mechanical properties

This suite of tests involves checking how much physical and mechanical stress the packaging can take before it breaks. This includes the following tests.

A. Tensile Strength

This test checks how much force is required to break the flexible packaging and how much it can be elongated before it breaks. This also gives the elongation to failure data &#; that is how much a material can be stretched.

B. Dart Impact

The dart impact test, often known as the drop dart test, checks the toughness of the flexible packaging. As the name implies, a dart is released from a certain height which free-falls onto the flexible packaging, which is clamped tightly at the base. Darts of different weights are used in the test.

C. Bond Strength (PET, Poly)

Bond strength determines how strong the lamination is. Flexible packaging often contains multiple layers of polymers, including metalized sheets. The bond strength test checks how much force is needed to take the layers apart.

D. Seam Strength

Seam strength checks the strength of the packaging in the areas where two films or sheets are joined.

E. Flex Crack Resistance (FCR)

Flex Crack Resistance tests how brittle flexible packaging is. This flexible packaging testing method checks how much the packaging can be flexed or bend before it cracks.

F. The Coefficient of Friction (CoF)

CoF checks how easily two surfaces slide against each other. In other words, it tests the smoothness of the film or the packaging. CoF gives an idea of how easily packaging films can slide over another material during packaging.

#3. Testing of functional properties

The functional properties test the barrier properties, understand the dissolution, diffusion, adsorption of the flexible packaging materials. They also help understand how capable the packaging is when it comes to preserving the products.

#1. Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR)

This test checks the permeation of the material by water vapors at a selected temperature, pressure and humidity. The transmission rate is measured as grams per square meter per day, that is, how much water vapor is transmitted through the packaging film per unit area per unit time.

#2. Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR)

This test uses the packaging film to form a barrier between a chamber devoid of oxygen and filled with oxygen. Like the WVTR test, it is measured in moles per square meter per day.

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#4. Packaging Strength and Integrity Tests

This set of tests check how well the packaging is sealed in the assembly line and how well it holds over time. Even if the materials used for packaging have excellent barrier properties, an improper seal can make the product expire earlier than expected. Most of these tests occur while the package is filled with the product.

package testing - flexible packaging testing

#1. Seal Strength

This flexible packaging test shows how secured the seal is and how well it keeps the packaging enclosed over time.

#2. Drop Test

Drop test checks whether the flexible packaging can survive drops when it is filled. To pass a drop test, neither the materials used to make the packaging nor the seal should break. Also, the product inside should stay intact.

#3. Vibration Test

This checks how well the package can endure vibrations.

#4. Compatibility Test

Compatibility tests are quite important to understand that the product shelf-life in the packaging. This flexible packaging testing checks if the product inside is compatible with the materials used to make the packaging and the sealing method. Incompatible packages can often lead to leakage or product spoilage.

#5. Scuff Proofness

This checks the durability of the packaging against scratches.

#6. Leakage Test

Leakage tests check if the seams, seals or the materials of the packaging leaks or not by putting the packaging filled with the product in a vacuum chamber. The pressure is dropped gradually and the package is checked continuously for any signs of leakage.

flexible packaging leak test setup

#7. Global Migration

Migration testing assesses the toxicological risks associated with the packaging. Many chemical substances used in food packaging are often toxic but are used for their barrier properties, or for increasing the strength of the packaging film. Global migration checks how all the materials used in the packaging can contaminate the food. In other words, it checks how inert the materials are.

#8. Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR)

ESCR checks how resistant the packaging is to Environmental stress cracking or ESC. ESC is quite common in plastics since they become brittle over time through exposure to UV and reaction with other reagents.

#5. Visibility and Appearance Test

Optical properties of flexible packaging are also quite important. They make up a major part of the branding. They also improve product visibility. The color, haze, and gloss are tested.

#1. Color Fastness

Color fastness is tested by exposing the packaging to agents that can cause the color to fade.

#2. Haze and Gloss

Haze is tested using a Spectrophotometer whereas gloss is tested using a Glossmeter.

Bottom-line

Testing is crucial for any type of packaging and makes up an important part of quality control. This allows manufacturers to understand how long their product will last on the shelf, or if they will survive the shipping. Flexible packaging testing is an investment that can save a lot of money in the long run.

Are you interested in learning more about Metallized PET Film Manufacturing? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!