High-quality TPU Empowers High-Quality Development of Paint Protection Films; Lubrizol Is Leading the Innovation

Firstly, Lubrizol officially launched the white paper titled 'New-Form Consumption—Paint Protection Film Industry’s New Growth Momentum', leveraging its role as a technology leader in TPU to provide strategic guidance for the high-quality development of the PPF industry. Additionally, Lubrizol announced the official commissioning of a new production line for ESTANE® TPU—specifically designed for the paint protection film (PPF) industry—at its Shanghai manufacturing base, further underscoring Lubrizol’s continued confidence in China’s PPF market. Key Drivers of PPF Industry Development: Quality, Innovation, and Collaboration As a relatively new product category, paint protection films have only recently entered the mainstream consumer consciousness—but they have demonstrated remarkable growth potential in recent years. The white paper notes that evolving and upgrading social consumption concepts have significantly heightened vehicle owners’ demand for exterior protection and personalization. It also presents findings from an extensive market survey conducted among automobile consumers in China’s first- and second-tier cities, identifying three major trends: First, quality is the top priority for PPF consumers. While consumers have many options, their main challenge lies in opacity—lack of transparency regarding product performance. Consumers are willing to pay a premium—if it resolves their core concerns about PPF quality. Second, the synergistic integration of 'Three Excellence Principles'—'Excellent Materials, Excellent Manufacturing, and Excellent Installation'—is critical to ensuring quality. This requires seamless collaboration across the entire value chain. The base film plus coating constitute 'Excellent Materials', forming the very soul of the PPF and accounting for approximately 80% of its overall material performance. 'Excellent Manufacturing' is equally vital: specialized TPU production methods directly influence downstream film extrusion and coating performance. 'Excellent Installation' refers to superior application quality—standardized installation practices directly shape end-user experience. Third, under the impetus of new-form consumption, younger generations have become the primary PPF consumers. Open innovation—including technological, channel, and business model innovations—will elevate quality-driven consumption to a new level. Lubrizol is actively leading this transformation. During the white paper launch event, Lubrizol formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Milian Automotive Technology Co., Ltd.—the official authorized distributor of MICHELIN automotive films. This powerful alliance will leverage each party’s deep expertise in automotive aftermarket services, materials science, and innovation to jointly propel the premium PPF market into a new stage of development. The 'Hexagonal Warrior': Advancing PPF Quality In 2009, TPU-based paint protection films were officially introduced. Going forward, Chinese consumers’ demand for automotive styling and detailing is expected to continue rising—and TPU applications in the PPF sector are projected to grow at an accelerated pace. Specifically, according to Lubrizol, its TPU materials deliver optimal softness and conformability during installation, while simultaneously maintaining exceptional durability—up to 10+ years—for the TPU substrate. This balanced performance profile—rather than excelling in just one attribute—enables TPU to meet the demanding requirements of PPF applications. Lubrizol has specifically developed proprietary formulations tailored exclusively for TPU-based paint protection films. Through multiple rounds of iterative development, Lubrizol has established the correct technical pathway for the PPF industry.

Comprehensive Overview of Lubrizol’s ESTANE® TPU Product Series

ESTANE® FS Flexible Thermoplastic Polyurethane Films resist ink staining and meet the electromechanical requirements of Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) devices. Product Name Hardness ESTANE FS H92C4P 92A ESTANE FS L75A4P 75A ESTANE FS L85B4P 85A ESTANE® GP TPU Designed specifically for injection molding. ESTANE® GP TPU is engineered for injection molding processing. Pearlthane™ TPU—a polycaprolactone-based thermoplastic polyurethane (Pearlthane 11Txx series)—is a standout fast-cycle specialty polymer that complements our injection-molding products. Product Name Hardness ESTANE GP 52DT Thermoplastic Polyurethane 53D ESTANE GP 60DB Thermoplastic Polyurethane 60D ESTANE GP 72DB Thermoplastic Polyurethane 68D ESTANE GP 85AE Thermoplastic Polyurethane 85A ESTANE GP 92AB3 Thermoplastic Polyurethane 92A ESTANE GP 92AT Thermoplastic Polyurethane 92A ESTANE® MVT (Moisture Vapor Transmission) TPU Designed to impart breathability to extruded and injection-molded parts. ESTANE® MVT (Moisture Vapor Transmission) Thermoplastic Polyurethane ESTANE® Moisture Vapor Transmission (MVT) TPU is an aromatic polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethane formulated for high moisture vapor transmission applications—primarily films. Tin-free grades are available. Product Name Hardness ESTANE MVT 75AT3 Thermoplastic Polyurethane 75A ESTANE MVT 80 NT1 Thermoplastic Polyurethane 80A ESTANE MVT 90 NT1 Thermoplastic Polyurethane 90A ESTANE® RNW TPU Lubrizol’s specialty thermoplastic polyurethane product line features bio-carbon attributes. Although these materials utilize bio-based and/or mass-balanced feedstocks, they deliver identical high quality and performance. Lubrizol’s specialty thermoplastic polyurethane product line features bio-carbon attributes. The ESTANE® RNW TPU portfolio offers biomass-balanced versions of multiple standard product grades. Although these materials use bio-based and/or mass-balanced raw materials, they maintain the same high quality and performance. Product Name Hardness ESTANE RNW60 ZHF90AT2 TPU 91A ESTANE RNW85 GP52DT TPU 52D ESTANE RNW90 58300 TPU 82A ESTANE RNW90 58887 TPU 90A ESTANE® S TPU Formerly known as 'Skythane Thermoplastic Polyurethane' A complete thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) product portfolio composed of polyester, polyether, and specialty adhesives—formerly branded 'Skythane TPU'. ESTANE® S TPU is primarily used in injection molding and adhesive applications.

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