As well as conventional car tinting films, there are nowadays a variety of alternatives such as athermal, carbon or chameleon films. Often such a variety of options causes only confusion. Therefore, in this article you will learn what athermal film is, what it is for, what advantages it has.
So, athermal film is a material with energy-saving properties. It should be noted at once that its task is not to give the glass a new shade. Instead, it reduces the percentage of heat that penetrates inside the vehicle. Yes, in principle, even cellophane falls under this definition, because it reflects heat to a very small extent. The difference lies in the level of heat transmission by the film.
Conventional tinting films can generally retain a negligible amount of heat. Therefore, tinting films with a heat retention level below 20% can be considered as non-energy saving films with a weak heat reflective effect. Usually such films are coloured non-metallised and low cost films.
Car tinting films with heat retention levels above 20% are athermal and their effectiveness can be measured (with a special device).
In doing so, they can be categorised into such groups:
- High energy efficiency – heat retention of more than 70%;
- Medium energy efficiency – 40% to 70% heat retention;
- Low energy efficiency – 20% to 40% heat retention.
Athermal film for the car has the same characteristics as those for building cladding, namely maximum light penetration, no glare, and a high level of reflection of solar energy and ultraviolet rays.
To summarise the first result, we can say that athermal film is used for the following tasks:
- Avoid overheating of the interior of the cabin and the elements in it.
- Create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
- Provide protection against ultraviolet radiation.
Another important difference is that, unlike conventional film, athermal film does not affect the light. At the same time, it provides protection from thermal (up to 59%) and ultraviolet waves (up to 99%). The light transmission remains at 88%, making this type of tinting more preferable to conventional tinting.
Types of athermal films
There are three main types of athermal tinting film, each with its own unique characteristics:
The semi-metalised film has a protective layer that protects against UV rays (99%) and infrared radiation (~40%), as well as reasonably good visibility from the inside.
Metallised film has a protective layer that protects against UV rays (99%), infrared radiation (~60%), and good visibility from inside. Such layer is made of metallised polymer with mirror effect.
Ceramic film is the latest development in the film segment, which allows the best performance in all areas. It blocks ultraviolet radiation (99%), infrared radiation (80%-98%) and has the best visibility from inside, even with the highest degree of blackout.
Advantages and disadvantages of athermal tinting
The advantages of athermal tinting:
- UV protection. Prevents burns, protects against burning of the interior of the vehicle.
- Comfort climate. Reduces the intensity of heat, making the car cooler on a hot day. Also in cold weather, it significantly slows down the cooling of the vehicle interior.
- Aesthetic appearance. Gives the vehicle a spectacular appearance.
- Privacy. Hides the contents of the cabin from prying eyes.
- Glare absorption. Partially reduces glare, which is beneficial for the driver.
- Safety. Protects against UV, infrared rays and glass breakage.
- Saves fuel.
- Prevents hypothermia of the driver and passengers (especially important for children)
Disadvantages of athermal tinting:
- High cost. Quality tinting requires cost.
- Police attention. Police officers may check for compliance with tinting standards.
- Limited choice of colours. It is important to choose a film that harmonises with the colour of the car and does not create discomfort for the driver.
