FAQ From the Front Line

Our front line staff – sales con­sul­tants, CSR’s, and designers work directly with our customers every day. With that in mind, we asked our experts their most fre­quently asked questions. We received enough response to begin a series we believe will be valuable to anyone research­ing vehicle graphics —

Today’s FAQ is: What are vehicle wrap
materials made of?

The short answer – Vinyl with an adhesive backing specif­i­cally designed for this application.

The long answer – Vinyl begins as Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), then additives create the vinyl film used to wrap vehicles. Plas­ti­ciz­ers are added for flex­i­bil­ity, pigment is added for color, then UV absorbers and heat sta­bi­liz­ers are added to create a vinyl that will conform to a vehicle’s shape and withstand the elements. Cast, or “premium vinyl,” is a process similar to making a cake. Ingre­di­ents are mixed and solvents are added, then poured into a casting sheet, which is baked, allowing the solvents to evaporate. This process makes a very flexible, thin, shrink-resistant material. Another man­u­fac­tur­ing option is the calendar or economy process. In this method, ingre­di­ents are mixed, but solvents aren’t added. Like pizza dough, the vinyl is rolled and stretched into the desired shape. This material is thicker and having been stretched, it tends to shrink.

Some vinyl is pressure activated with micro­scopic glass beads pre­vent­ing air bubbles when properly applied. Materials are often clear-coat laminated for added pro­tec­tion from elements. Some adhesives are designed to last for several years and to be easily removed (check warranties).

There you have it, the short and the long. What questions would you like answered?