Sun shield film or Tint
Sun shield is a UV stabilized dyed window film which once applied on window glass will reduce ingress of heat and other solar radiation through the window.
Sun shield film has adhesive on one side, which is covered with liner. Removal of the liner exposes the adhesive, which can be activated by spraying soap solution on it. It is then fixed on the inside of the glass and the excess water is squeezed out with the help of a squeegee.
Sun shield film is best suited for plain window glass. It is not recommended for any non-smooth surfaces and even most of the smooth surfaces other than glass. However, it might stick on certain smooth plastics like polycarbonate and acrylic but the life of the film will vary.
The heat rejection property of Sun shield film varies from film to film. The reflective range of Sun shield film rejects heat upto 80%.
The life of Sun shield depend on various factors such as application of film, orientation of the window, location etc. There are recorded cases of film lasting for more than 10 years.
Strictly speaking there is no one-way film for all times. However, reflective Sun shield films prevent visibility from outside (area of greater light intensity) during daytime and vice-versa during night time.
Window tinting services has recently introduced new Blackout film, which can completely block light thus obstructing any visibility from both sides.
Sun shield film provides various advantages like heat rejection, protection from harmful UV rays (upto 98%) and protection from flying splinters in the case of accidental breakage of glass; which are not achieved in tinted glass. Thus it is better than tinted glass on these parameters.
Sun shield film is UV stabilized dyed polyester film, which can cut upto 98% of the harmful UV rays which causes fading. But it should be noted that UV rays is one of the components in the solar energy spectrum, and the other components such as heat, Infrared radiation and light are also responsible for fading due to sunlight. Since these factors vary for different types of films and hence extent of fading will depend on the type of film used.
Sun shield film once applied on window glass reduces the ingress of heat through it enhancing cooling of the room/car. As a result there is a cut down in terms of the energy consumed, and hence film is also called an energy saver. The extent of energy saved will depend on the type of film used (Different films have different heat rejection properties).
Installation of the film is fairly easy and can be applied by following the steps shown in one of our site features. However, it is advisable to install the film with the help of trained installers to avoid appearance of bubbles or damage to the film or any wastage.
The range of Sun shield films includes Reflective films, Non reflective film, Clear frost, silver frost (privacy film) and Safety film. These films are available with or without Scratch Resistant Coating (SRC).
Sun shield film, applied on glass can prevent flying glass splinters in the event of accidental breakage. However it does not reduce the chance of glass panes breakage.
Time taken for fixing film depends upon various factors such as place of application, access to glass, installer's efficiency, type of film, time of application etc. Normally time taken to fix film on a car (with out removing window glasses) is around 1 to 3 hours depending on the car.
Curing time for window film adhesive applied on glass depends on the factors such as film type, time of the year when film is applied, time of the day when film is applied etc. The recommended curing time for ordinary window film is at least a week from the day of application.
One of the advantages of Sun shield Film is that it does not need any special care after installation. Cleaning of windows with Sun shield film can be done using soft cloth and water. It is recommended to use neutral detergents, if need be. Do not use any rough or abrasive material for cleaning Sun shield side of the glass.
The advantage of window film is that you can change it whenever you want. The following are the step by step procedure to remove the film:-
Step1: Peel off the film from all corners with the help of a cutter or blade.
Step2: Spray water on the adhesive sticking to the window glass.
Step3: Scrap off the adhesive on the glass with the help of a scrapper.
Step4: Wipe off the cleaned glass with a cloth.