Surface Protection Film: 12 Considerations for Selecting the Right One and 5 Problems to Avoid

The name surface protection film kind of says it all — it's designed to protect critical surfaces from scratching, marring, abrasions, UV exposure, or dirt and contamination. Popular and successful due to its strength and durability, protective film is actually an adhesive tape.  It's produced from thin film layers bonded together to create a barrier,  guarding  everything from a building's glass to anything else requiring under-construction protection.  For example, It's the shrink-wrap plastic that comes affixed to your new refrigerator, and it's the roll of material used to cover and protect the surface of fabricated parts, especially in the automotive industry. And it's used extensively by manufacturers of metal and plastic sheets. They are also scratch proof and help reduce the penetration of sunlight and UV rays.

12 Questions To Ask Before Choosing the Right Surface Protection Film

To ensure you get the right protective film for you applications make sure and ask these questions.

► 1. Is the surface area clean and dry? Dirty application conditions will likely yield unacceptable results. Embedded materials and unnecessary debris adversely affect a protective film's performance.

► 2. Will the film be applied to a rough or a smooth surface? Rougher surfaces have more surface area and require a thicker adhesive.

► 3. What type of surface needs to be protected? Be it wood, stone, metal, glass, plastic, or ceramic; these surfaces require completely different adhesives to perform successfully.

► 4. Will the surface be painted or have a coating? Chemical reactions can exist between adhesives and coatings, especially the longer they are in contact with each other.

► 5. Will the film be used outdoors? If so, for how long? The sun's UV rays destroy adhesives over time. Protective film will not only yellow, but will become stiff and brittle, and therefore rendered ineffective. The length of time the film will be exposed to the elements will determine how much UV protection it needs.

► 6. The Surface Treatment. The treatment given to the surface prior to the application of the tape should also be a major factor of concern when choosing the right tape. The primary reason for this is the potential chemical reactions that might be experienced when the tape and the already-existing treatment on the surface come in contact. If the surface is painted or already has coating, be careful to choose a tape that is likely to not react with the treatment material.

► 7. Will the film be exposed to elevated temperatures? Most rubber-based adhesives cannot handle temperatures above 150°F. Acrylic adhesives are effective at temperatures up to 350°F, and silicone adhesives up to 500°F.

► 8. Will the film be used in a safety or security application? On any  project, it's safety first. Is the purpose of the film to protect workers from shattering glass or to deter intruders?

► 9. What is the scope of the project? Do you need to protect windows with a PVC film or do you need to provide a moisture and vapor barrier on a slab where a LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) film is the answer?

► 10. How long will the film need to adhere to the surface? If this is a long-term job, some additional component(s) may need to be added to ensure the bond of the surface to the film for the length of time you need it to hold fast.

► 11. The Length of Time That the Protection Will be Needed. Another question you should ask yourself when considering surface protection is the length of time that the film will be required to adhere to the surface. If you are considering a long-term project, then you should go for adhesives or surface protection tapes that have stronger bonds that will adhere for a longer time period. If, however, you need the protection  on a temporary basis, or just for a short duration, then you don't have to go for protection films with very strong adhesive properties. As noted earlier, such may become problematic when it comes to their removal.

► 12. Will storage and transportation affect the film? Your crew may withstand extreme climates better than your materials! Consider their transport to the job site as well as the material's subsequent storage so it doesn't compromise effectiveness. Keep films and tapes in a cool, dry place.

Once affixed to a clean, dry surface, protective film effectively prevent “damage” to that surface. Although incredibly versatile, use the wrong protective film for the job and you'll jeopardize both your timeline and the always dreaded budget overages.

What are the Common Problems with Surface Protection Film?

Here are the most common challenges we have found working with tape and surface protection film.

► 1. Edge Lift. This occurs when ends of the protective film begin to lift off the surface. Common in metal protection where composite protective film is used, it happens especially with aluminum as compared to steel. Again, the right film for the job makes the difference.

► 2. Poor Surface Adhesion. If the film peels off too easily there are multiple things that could have caused it:

The surface was not clean enough or was contaminated by dust or moisture.

If the incorrect film for the project was used, it could easily result in an insufficient amount of adhesive or too low a tack for the climate and conditions.

The film was not stretched uniformly during installation creating a distortion and therefore an ineffectual seal.

► 3. Debonding. If the film actually separates from the adhesive it leaves a residue on the surface.  Adhesive removal is remedied with a clean cloth dipped in an appropriate amount of organic solvent such as ethanol or acetate. Care should be taken during this step so as not to create an additional cosmetic problem to the protected surface upon removal.

► 4. Ghosting. One of the primary objectives of any construction project is to make it a seamless transition, where literally no evidence is left behind. When visual blemishes are apparent on what were supposed to be protected surfaces, the main cause of this “ghosting” is due to residue build up left behind from the markers, cleaners, solvents previously used to clean surfaces. These can be removed with care and diluted solvents.

► 5. The Film Cannot Be Removed. The most common reason for this problem is the quality of the pressure-sensitive adhesive. Beware of manufacturers who have not mastered the production of this very specialized adhesive technology. Some have only tweaked ordinary adhesives by making some improvements to existing formulations — with disastrous consequences.

Another reason why you’d have difficulty removing the film could be an overexposure to sunlight. This is why the UV rating of the film and the determination of how long you need it to adhere is an essential pre-installation determination.

If you are looking for protection film packaging, you may contact Good Film for the best kind of surface protection at an affordable price.