Reference / 40 terms

Paint protection glossary.

Plain-language definitions for automotive paint protection. Technical values and performance claims always depend on the specific product and test method.

40 entries

Abrasion resistance: The ability of a material to withstand wear from rubbing or friction under stated conditions.
Adhesion: The attraction or bonding between a coating and the surface beneath it.
Cohesion: Internal strength that holds a material together.
Ceramic coating: A broad market term for liquid-applied surface treatments; formulation and performance vary.
Chemical resistance: Resistance to specified chemical exposure under defined test conditions.
Clear coat: The transparent top layer in many automotive paint systems.
Contamination: Unwanted particles, oils or residues on a surface that may affect finishing or adhesion.
Curing: A process by which a material develops properties through physical or chemical change.
Dry-film thickness: The thickness of a film after drying or curing, measured using an appropriate method.
Edge adhesion: The ability of a material to remain attached at an edge or boundary.
Elongation: The amount a material stretches before breaking, reported under specified conditions.
Film formation: The process through which applied material develops a continuous layer.
Gloss units: A measurement of reflected light at a defined geometry; readings depend on the test method.
Haze: A visual or measured scattering of reflected light that can reduce clarity.
Hydrophobicity: A tendency for a surface to repel water; it does not alone establish protective performance.
Impact resistance: A material’s response to a specified impact test.
Liquid PPF: Informal marketing wording for some liquid-applied products; not a universal technical classification.
Mil: One-thousandth of an inch; 1 mil equals 25.4 microns.
Micron: One-millionth of a meter, equal to 0.001 millimeter.
Orange peel: A textured appearance resembling citrus skin, often visible in reflected light.
Optical clarity: How clearly a material transmits or reflects an image without distortion or haze.
Paint correction: Polishing or refining paint to reduce selected surface defects.
Paint protection film (PPF): A pre-manufactured film installed over painted vehicle surfaces.
Peelability: The ability of a material to be removed by peeling under specified conditions.
PPS: Paint Protection Spray; a broad label for spray-applied automotive protection systems.
Scratch resistance: Resistance to a defined scratch test; not a guarantee against all scratches.
Solvent resistance: Resistance to specified solvent exposure under defined conditions.
Substrate: The underlying surface or material onto which a coating is applied.
Surface preparation: Cleaning and conditioning a surface before finishing or application.
Surface tension: A property of liquids that influences wetting and droplet behavior.
Tensile strength: The maximum tensile stress a specimen withstands under a defined test.
Thermal stability: The ability to retain specified properties across a temperature range.
UV resistance: Resistance to defined ultraviolet exposure; claims depend on test conditions.
Weathering: Changes caused by environmental exposure such as light, moisture and temperature.
Wet-film thickness: The thickness of an applied liquid layer before drying or curing.
Crosslinking: Formation of links between polymer chains during some curing processes.
Film integrity: Continuity and condition of a film, including defects, cracks or separation.
Maintenance wash: Routine cleaning intended to remove dirt while minimizing surface damage.
Chemical compatibility: Whether materials can be used together without unacceptable interaction.
Spray-applied protection: A product applied to a surface as atomized liquid using suitable equipment.

Related reading: Understanding thickness · Testing guide