TPU film usage guide and answers to common questions

TPU film, or thermoplastic polyurethane film, is a polymer material that combines elasticity, wear resistance, transparency and environmental protection. With the continuous development of new material technology, TPU film has been widely used in the fields of electronic product protective film, functional fabrics, automotive interiors, medical equipment, sports equipment, etc.

I. What is TPU film?
TPU film is a thin film material formed by processing thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. It has both the processability of plastic and the soft elasticity of rubber. It has high transparency, high elasticity, excellent wear resistance and hydrolysis resistance, and is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It can be produced by casting, extrusion, blown film and other methods, and is widely used in different industrial needs.

TPU film is divided into polyether type and polyester type. The former is resistant to hydrolysis and cold resistance, suitable for outdoor and medical use; the latter has higher strength and heat resistance, suitable for industrial protective film, automotive coating protection and other fields.

II. Advantages of TPU coated fabrics
TPU film is also commonly used for composite processing of functional fabrics. By laminating with fabrics, it gives fabrics excellent physical properties and is widely used in outdoor sports, medical protection, industrial fabrics and other scenarios.

TPU coated fabrics have the following advantages:
Excellent waterproof and breathable performance: while blocking liquid water, it allows water vapor to pass through, maintaining comfort and dryness;
Excellent low-temperature flexibility: It can remain soft even at sub-zero temperatures and is not easy to crack;
High elasticity and resilience: Suitable for frequent bending parts such as clothing and shoes;
High environmental standards: No solvents, no harmful plasticizers, in compliance with EU REACH, ROHS and other environmental regulations.

III. Comparative analysis of TPU film and other films
1. TPU film and PPF film: Which is better?
PPF film (paint protection film) is actually a kind of purpose film, and the material can be TPU, PVC or TPEE, etc. In high-end PPF products, TPU has become the mainstream choice.
TPU has the following significant advantages when used in PPF:
Strong scratch self-healing ability: minor scratches can be self-repaired after heating;
Excellent yellowing resistance: no yellowing for a long time;
High transparency and gloss: does not affect the original car color beauty;
Good conformability: adapt to the complex curved surface structure of the car body.
In terms of comprehensive performance, TPU as a substrate is far superior to traditional PVC or TPEE, and is an ideal choice for PPF film.

2. The difference between TPU film and PU film
Although the names are similar, the actual material properties are significantly different:
Thermoplasticity difference: TPU is thermoplastic and can be melt-processed; while traditional PU film is thermosetting;
Durability and hydrolysis resistance: TPU performs better and has stronger adaptability;
Environmental protection level: TPU can be free of solvents and plasticizers, which is more environmentally friendly;
Mechanical strength and flexibility: TPU has higher elongation and strength;
Application range: PU film is mostly used in low-end scenarios, while TPU covers mid-to-high-end uses.
In summary, TPU is significantly better than PU in many key performances and is the preferred material for more high-performance occasions.

IV. Answers to common questions about TPU film

1. Is TPU film easy to break?
Not easy. TPU film has an extremely high elongation rate (up to 500%), good tensile and tear resistance, and strong durability.

2. Is TPU rubber or plastic?

TPU is a "thermoplastic elastomer" that has the elasticity of rubber and can be heat processed like plastic, combining the advantages of both materials.

3. Is TPU material expensive?

The price of TPU film is slightly higher than that of general plastics such as PVC, but compared with its environmental performance, durability and comprehensive performance, the cost performance is still excellent.

4. Is TPU film waterproof?

Yes. TPU film has a dense structure, can effectively block the passage of water, and has excellent waterproof performance. At the same time, it can also achieve a certain moisture permeability function according to the process.

5. Is TPU film scratch-resistant?
It has a certain scratch resistance, and is usually combined with a surface hardening coating to improve the scratch resistance level. When used for mobile phone films, it often reaches a hardness of 3H-5H.

6. Can TPU film prevent falling?

TPU film has a certain buffering capacity, can effectively absorb impact, and protect the device from falling. It is often used to protect flexible electronic products.

7. Which is better, TPU film or tempered glass film?

The two are applicable to different scenarios. Tempered glass film has high hardness and strong scratch resistance, but it is fragile; TPU film is flexible, can be bent and wrapped around corners, and is not easy to break. If you pursue full coverage and self-healing, TPU film has more advantages.

V. Application fields and development prospects of TPU film
With its multifunctional characteristics, TPU film has been widely used in many fields:
Electronic product protective film: such as mobile phone screen protection, wearable device shell film;
Outdoor sports equipment: such as jackets, ski suits, waterproof shoes;
Automotive protective film (PPF): provides long-term protection for the car body paint;
Medical materials: such as degradable films, artificial organ capsules, etc.;
Industrial films: used for sealing, shockproof, airtight and other functional parts.

The future development direction of TPU film includes:
Higher environmental protection: using bio-based TPU to improve degradability;
Function expansion: such as antibacterial, flame retardant, UV protection, etc.

TPU film is an advanced film material that combines flexibility, transparency, weather resistance and environmental protection. It has shown a wide range of adaptability and technical advantages in many industries. Whether compared with PU, PPF, tempered film and other materials, TPU has outstanding performance in flexibility, protection and durability. In the future, as material technology continues to evolve, TPU film will continue to expand its application boundaries.

If you have more questions about the application of TPU film or customization needs, please contact us:
Kunshan Red Apple Plastic New Material
E-mail: [email protected]

We are committed to providing high-performance TPU material solutions for various industries. Welcome to call us for consultation and communication.