There are the following obvious differences in performance between TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and TPH (thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer):
I. Scratch resistance
TPU:
TPU has very excellent scratch resistance. Its molecular structure is tight and tough, and it can effectively resist scratches from various sharp objects. Even if it is scratched by relatively strong external forces, it is not easy to leave obvious scratches.
For example, if you scratch hard on the paint protection film made of TPU material with a key, only slight traces may appear on the surface, and these traces may self-repair at a certain temperature. This is because TPU has good elasticity and self-healing ability. When slightly damaged, the molecules will rearrange under certain conditions to restore the surface to flatness.
In daily use, vehicles will inevitably encounter scratches from branches, small stones, etc. TPU paint protection film can provide reliable protection for car paint and prevent car paint from being scratched.
TPH:
The scratch resistance of TPH is relatively weak. Although it also has a certain degree of flexibility, it is more likely to have obvious scratches when facing scratches from sharp objects.
For example, if you scratch the protective film made of TPH material with a key in the same way, there may be relatively obvious scratches on the surface, and these scratches are generally difficult to self-repair.
When dealing with daily slight scratches, TPH may play a certain protective role, but compared with TPU, its protection effect is slightly inferior.
II. Tensile property
TPU:
TPU has excellent tensile properties. It can be stretched to a large extent without breaking, and can quickly return to its original state after stretching, maintaining good elasticity.
For example, take a small section of TPU material and stretch it gently by hand. You can find that it can be stretched to a very long length, and it can rebound immediately after being released, with almost no deformation. This characteristic enables TPU to better adapt to the complex shape of the vehicle surface during installation and ensure a tight fit with the car paint.
For some curved parts of the vehicle, the TPU paint protection film can fit easily without breaking or deforming due to excessive stretching.
TPH:
The tensile property of TPH is relatively poor. During the stretching process, it may break or cannot fully return to its original state.
For example, when stretching TPH material, it may only be stretched to a certain extent, and if you continue to stretch, it will break. Moreover, even within a small stretching range, there may be a certain degree of deformation after being released and it cannot fully return to its original state.
When installing the TPH paint protection film, for the complex curved parts of the vehicle, more careful operation may be required to avoid damage to the film due to improper stretching.
III. Anti-yellowing property
TPU:
TPU has good anti-yellowing property. Even under long-term sunlight exposure and high temperature environments, it is not easy to have yellowing phenomenon and can maintain good transparency and appearance.
For example, if the TPU paint protection film is exposed to the sun for months or even years, its color and transparency can still remain stable and there will be no obvious yellowing. This makes the appearance of the vehicle able to remain as good as new for a long time, and the yellowing of the protective film will not affect the overall aesthetics.
For car owners who pay attention to maintaining the appearance of the vehicle, TPU is a better choice and can ensure that the vehicle still has a high level of appearance after long-term use.
TPH:
The anti-yellowing property of TPH is relatively weak. Under the influence of environmental factors such as sunlight exposure and high temperature, yellowing is easy to occur, which affects the appearance and performance of the protective film.
For example, after a period of sunlight exposure, the protective film made of TPH material may gradually turn yellow, making the vehicle look old. Moreover, the yellowed protective film may reduce the protection effect on the car paint and also affect the aesthetics of the vehicle.
IV. Weather resistance
TPU:
TPU has excellent weather resistance. It can maintain stable performance under various harsh climatic conditions, including high temperature, low temperature, ultraviolet radiation, acid rain, etc.
For example, in hot summer, the TPU paint protection film will not soften or deform due to high temperature; in cold winter, it will not become brittle and break due to low temperature. At the same time, it can effectively resist the erosion of ultraviolet rays and prevent car paint from fading and aging.
For vehicle use in different regions and climatic conditions, TPU can provide reliable protection to ensure that the car paint is always in good condition.
TPH:
The weather resistance of TPH is relatively poor. Under extreme climatic conditions, the performance may decline.
For example, in a high-temperature environment, TPH may become softer and prone to problems such as blistering; in a low-temperature environment, it may become brittle and easy to break. Moreover, its resistance to ultraviolet rays is also weak, and it is easy to age under long-term sunlight exposure.
In areas with relatively harsh climatic conditions, the TPH paint protection film may need to be replaced more frequently to ensure the protection effect on the car paint.