This glossary of paint protection film terms is essential reading if you’re searching for the right PPF dealer to trust with your Tesla. It will help you get a lot more out of your conversations with the pros, so that you’re equipped with excellent information to guide you in your decisions.
Glossary of Paint Protection Film Terms
‘A’ Pillars – The supports for a car’s roof located on either side of the windshield; a common area for PPF application.
Acids & Enzymes – Substances that cause chemical reactions and are damaging to a car finish not protected with PPF; naturally found in bird droppings, bug guts and more.
Acrylic Adhesive – The invisible, flexible coating on PPF that bonds to the finish of a car.
Bay – What professional PPF installers call their work area.
Bulk Install – A technique that starts with placing PPF on your Tesla, before cutting it to fit. This is an alternative to pattern install (explained below).
Clay Bar – A soft, rectangle-shaped resin compound used to remove dust and grime from a car before finishing repairs or PPF installation.
Compounding – A scratch removal process that works by leveling out the uneven paint surface. This is often a part of prep for PPF application.
Curing – The period of time after PPF installation when adhesive fully activates and becomes more durable preventing PPF ‘lift’ or air bubbles. Usually needs 7 days.
Decontamination – Refers to removal of dirt, brake dust and other fine particles that can cause blistering and air bubbles in PPF. This is key for a quality installation.
Drying – The final step in PPF installation, after PPF is smoothed to hug a car’s surface and free of air bubbles. Drying often involves use of a heat gun.
Elastomeric Polymer – The top coat of a quality PPF product that repels stains and gives it the power to self-heal scratches.
Front End – A popular PPF coverage area including the front bumper, fenders and hood.
Full Wrap – When PPF is installed over the entire body of a car. Full wraps may or may not include headlights and brake lights.
Hydrophobic – Hydrophobic surfaces are resistant to stains and water, because they repel moisture. This term is often used to describe a high quality PPF top coat.
Optically Clear – A scientific term for something that appears to be crystal clear, even though it may not look clear under a microscope. When PPF is optically clear, it’s virtually invisible.
Orange Peel – A common way to describe the surface of PPF that isn’t smooth or glossy. Often occurs due to low quality PPF or poor installation.
Pattern Install – A technique that uses a machine to cut PPF to fit, before it is placed on your car.
Plotter – A computerized machine that follows a pattern to cut a roll of film into pieces that fit the individual parts of a car.
Polishing – A broad term for removing paint defects in a variety of ways: with a polishing machine, wax, etc. Often confused with compounding, which is a specific type of polishing.
Polyurethane (PU) – The main component in PPF; an advanced plastic that is lightweight, transparent, and resistant to impact or corrosion.
Quarter Panel – The part of a car body between door and trunk, including the wheel well. A popular PPF installation area.
Rocker Panel – This area runs along the side of a car, just below the doors, between front and rear wheel wells. Rocker panels are a popular PPF installation area because you lift your feet over them as you get in and out.
Self-Healing – Good quality PPF has the ability to make scratches disappear with a little time and heat from an engine or the sun. This property is often called self-healing.
Slip Solution – During PPF installation, this liquid is sprayed on to activate the adhesive that bonds film to a car’s surface. The adhesive becomes “tacky” when it encounters the solution, meaning it will stick down and stay in place.
Swirl Marks – Fine scratches on paint, often caused by wiping a dusty car with a dry towel. Darker paint colors show swirl marks the most, and high quality PPF protects against them.
Top Coat – The outermost layer of PPF, often noteworthy because of advanced features.
Ultraviolet (or UV) Rays – A type of radiation from the sun that can fade a car’s finish or interior over time. High quality PPF helps protect car paint from UV rays.
Ready to take your new PPF knowledge out for a test drive? Here are some ways you can really work that new vocabulary: visit a local installer to talk shop, start a thread in the TMC forums, or talk to us in the comments.
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