Car window film is far more than just “sticky-back plastic”. It can help reduce the likelihood of theft from cars, improve privacy, reduce glare and air conditioning load as well as hold shards of broken glass together in the event of an accident. Matthew Beecham reports.
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To give its full definition, automotive window films are actually highly advanced, multi-layered materials made from biaxially-oriented, high clarity polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, polymerised and UV stabilised acrylic pressure sensitive or water-activated adhesives, and cross-linked hard acrylic scratch resistant coatings. They are installed to modify vehicle glass to reduce solar heat gain, reduce glare and UV transmission, and improve safety and security, or a combination of these. In other words, window films can improve the look of a vehicle and make the occupant feel safer.
There are a number of different types of window film, including those specifically designed to protect vehicle occupants and their belongings (known as safety/security window films) and other types such as solar films, fade reduction, tinting (for aesthetic use), etc.
Safety/security window films are a little different. They are designed to hold shattered glass together in the event of a smash and grab incident. It is applied to the interior surface of existing glass using pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive. Once applied, the film makes it difficult to smash the glass. The film has a resistant hard acrylic coating that provides protection against scratching and abrasion. Dyes, metals, alloys and UV inhibitors are added to produce the specific properties required. Safety/security films are clear laminated polyester films that when bonded to glass, contribute towards making the complete window stronger.
Motoring organisations, however, have mixed opinions about the window film’s safety, durability and vision characteristics. According to the UK’s Automobile Association (AA), the original glass is required, for type approval, to pass a range of strength, durability and optical tests including light transmission, abrasion, optical distortion and secondary image. The AA notes that applying a plastic film to the inside of the glass reduces light transmission. The AA is also concerned that the film will become scuffed, especially when the windows are opened. On that basis, the AA says: “We can’t recommend security film until a suitable material meets the right safety standards as well as providing security benefits.”
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By GlobalDataOn the other hand, Kevin Delaney, head of traffic and road safety for the RAC Foundation, told us: “Given the growing number of attacks by thieves on the side windows of cars and vans, either to steal the contents, or the vehicle itself [carjacking], it makes sense to consider upgrading the attack resistance of side windows to that of the front and rear screens. This can either be done by specifying laminated side windows, if available, when ordering a new vehicle, or by retro-fitting security film products in which case the RAC Foundation strongly recommends the use of top quality products which meet stringent conditions and which are fitted professionally.”
Meanwhile, the major window film manufacturers have invested huge sums developing their safety and security films, addressing solar rejection rates, adhesives, liners and the way in which the film shrinks once applied. “They will shrink a little bit,” said Stephen Belfort, sales manager, Bekaert Specialty Films. “For the side windows, it is OK. We can manage that.”
Belfort points out that while a solar control film would hold most of the glass together in the event of a smash and grab incident, it won’t prevent it from breaking. “It wouldn’t stop the opportunist thief from getting into the vehicle although it may just slow him down. With a safety and security film, however, when the glass breaks it tends to expand in size slightly. Because each crack is a small air gap between that and the next piece of glass, so the glass gets slightly bigger and it tends to lock itself into the frame. So the opportunist thief can give the side window 20 or 30 blows and still not penetrate the film. He would typically give up after the second or third hammer as he is attracting too much attention.”
It sounds like the next best thing to laminated side glazing on the retrofit market. Belfort added: “Laminated glass is fantastic in preventing access to the vehicle but my fear is that when you are inside the vehicle and you can’t open the doors, you also have a problem getting out. But with a safety film, because we bond just the inside surface of the glass, then the particles of glass open up and the film just falls out of the car. So you can exit the car quite easily.”
Bekaert Specialty Films is a world leader in the manufacture and distribution of professional grade solar control and safety and security window film products. All of its products are sold through a worldwide network of independent dealers and are available in a variety of options specifically designed for automotive, residential, commercial and safety applications.
Over the past few years, the UK-based Pentagon Group has been busy promoting its so-called SupaGlass film product. SupaGlass is a strong, polyester-based membrane that is bonded to the inside of and strengthens vehicle window glass. Pentagon says it was originally developed for its security benefits – as it can keep out an opportunist thief for up to 90 seconds – but it also has safety benefits. Given that it is bonded to the inside of a vehicle’s windows, both driver and passengers are given protection from flying glass in the event of an accident. At the same time, it enables a relatively easy escape from the vehicle following an accident as it can be pushed out without any risk from the glass on the other side.
Peter Mukherjee, director, Pentagon Glass Tech, said: “SupaGlass is a product which helps resist intrusion into the vehicle and also protects the occupants from side impact and rollover situations. It is a product that is growing but in small numbers. I don’t see it as being a major product in the marketplace for the tinting industry, mainly because in order to do SupaGlass you have to remove the glass from the car and bond the edges. It is a much more involved process and must be done in a workshop. It is an elaborate process for those that really need to have extra security. We basically pioneered window tinting in the UK. We started very much at the top end of the market, working toward what we call an OEM standard. And these standards have actually set standards around the world. We supply a number of OEMs, including Land Rover, Audi, BMW and Aston Martin.”
As far as the actual size of the automotive safety/security window market is concerned, manufacturers are reluctant to give an indication. For installers, however, this business can be very profitable, given the right tools. The European market mainly consists of independent installers, not franchises, despite the “enormous opportunities” for a franchise network, say manufacturers.
Matthew Beecham
