Frequently Asked Questions​
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    1.  What Are LLumar Films?​

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    2.  How Do LLumar Safety And Security Films Work?​

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    3.  Will LLumar Safety And Security Window Films Stop A Bullet?​

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    4.  How Much UV Protection Will LLumar Solar Film Provide?​

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    5.  Will LLumar Films Distort My Vision While Looking Out Of The Window?​

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    6. I Often See Purple Bubbling Window Film On Cars. Will LLumar Film Do This Over Time?​

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    7.  Do The Films Require Special Care Or Cleaning?​

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    8.  How Much Do The Automotive Films Cost?​

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    9.  Can I Install LLumar Film Myself?​

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   10.   Does Solutia Manufacture The Films They Sell?​

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   11.   Where Are LLumar Films Available?​

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   12.   What is "ISO"?​

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   13.   What would the SPF (sun protection factor) be for window film, using the same scale used by the sun screen manufacturers?​
 

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1.  What Are LLumar Films?

LLumar films constitute a wide family of protective, thin-film products that serve a variety of useful proposes. Most are intended for application to glass surfaces and are made from the highest quality, optically clear polyester films, treated, coated, and laminated in various ways through vacuum metallizing, sputtering coating, chemical dyeing or pigmentation. Special adhesives and scratch-resistant coatings make the films extremely durable and bond well to glass and other materials. Over 180 unique films are used for automotive, architectural, and residential applications to control the sun's heat, glare, and ultraviolet light, or provide color and patterned decoration. Others are used to make glass safer and more secure, or to invisibly protect auto paint from stone chips and abrasion.​
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2.  How Do LLumar Safety And Security Films Work? 

In both automotive and architectural applications, the film, which is available in a variety of thicknesses and tints, is generally applied to the interior of the glass, though specialized exterior films are available. In the event of an impact or explosion, the film serves to reduce the likelihood of glass breakage, but where shattering does occur they firmly hold the pieces safely in place. The films have an exceptionally strong, energy-absorbing mounting adhesive, and are composed of polyester film layers that are extremely high in tensile and break strength.​

3.  Will LLumar Safety And Security Window Films Stop A Bullet?

No blanket statement can be made about this. There are many reported instances where this has occurred, but the ballistic variables are too numerous to allow generalizations. The size, shape, mass, velocity, and trajectory of the bullet as well as the composition of glass on which it is installed make it dangerous to make any precise, warrantable claims. Generally, smaller caliber bullets can be, in differing circumstances, deflected, slowed, and occasionally stopped altogether. But no film company in the industry is yet justified in making warranted statements about their films being "bullet-proof" or even "bullet-resistant," until such time as fully defined criteria and controlled tests are in place that are nationally or internationally recognized. However, we do know that specified LLumar films on glass provide substantial penetration resistance, safety hazard mitigation, and a persistent weather seal in simulated events and controlled tests with hurled bricks, rocks, crowbars, hammers, bomb blasts, shotgun blasts, seismic events, and windborne debris.​

4.  How Much UV Protection Will LLumar Solar Film Provide?

In both automotive and architectural applications, LLumar solar films can reduce harmful ultraviolet rays by 96 to 99.9 percent, depending upon the specific film. Many films will additionally reduce glare by over 90% and reduce solar heat gain by 77%.
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5.  Will LLumar Films Distort My Vision While Looking Out Of The Window?

Professionally installed LLumar films are virtually undetectable after the installation and curing period and are extremely optically clear. Most architectural films are bonded to the glass with a special mounting adhesive called "CDF," meaning "clear, distortion-free." Most users will agree that visual acuity is often increased with LLumar film because glare is reduced, greatly reducing eyestrain.​

6.  I Often See Purple Bubbling Window Film On Cars. Will LLumar Film Do This Over Time?

No. Purple, bubbling film is a sign of a very low grade window film whose mounting adhesive and dye components have broken down. LLumar films are warranted against this, using more stable and advanced dye chemistries and/or permanent metal layers that do not discolor over time. LLumar HPR adhesive is known world-wide for its strength, durability, and optical clarity. Paradoxically, it seems that only poor quality films are noticed, and high quality, professional installations go unnoticed, perceived as mere "factory-tinted glass." All LLumar films come with a factory-backed warranty when installed by an authorized LLumar dealer.​

7.  Do The Films Require Special Care Or Cleaning?

Not really. While not quite as hard as glass, LLumar films are extremely scratch-resistant and may be cleaned with common household cleaners, non-abrasive paper towels, or cotton cleaning cloths. Caution should be exercised to prevent extreme gouging by hard, sharp, metallic objects.

8.  How Much Do The Automotive Films Cost?

The cost of solar or security films will vary with the thickness, type of material, size of the vehicle, and the market location. Your LLumar dealer will provide you with an estimate at no charge.

9.  Can I Install LLumar Film Myself?

LLumar films must be installed by a professional installer using highly specialized equipment and techniques.
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10.  Does Solutia Manufacture The Films They Sell?

Yes. With that exception of raw polyester, Solutia is the only window film manufacturing company in the world with the full range of technologies needed for every aspect of the production of solar control, decorative, and safety and security films. Solutia's Performance Films division has more than 700,000 square feet of manufacturing space dedicated to the production of the full range of film types. Solutia's production capabilities include color dyeing, sputtering, metallizing, laminating, and slitting. It is also is uniquely known for the unmatched size, scope, and quality of its marketing, sales, and technical support groups that literally span the globe. (top)​

11.  Where Are LLumar Films Available?

LLumar films are available at more than 10,000 dealerships worldwide. Manufacturing sites are located in the U.S. with sales offices in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Russia, Japan, China, Singapore, Mexico, and South America. With more than 50 years of experience, Solutia has the ability to meet the diverse needs of a global marketplace more effectively and efficiently than any competitor.

12.  What is "ISO"? What does it mean for a company (such as Solutia's Performance Films division) to be an ISO 9000 or ISO 9001 certified company?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 130 countries, one from each country. ...ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947. The mission of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity." (Quoted from ISO's web site.) ISO's home page is: http://www.iso.ch/index.html.​

13.  What would the SPF (sun protection factor) be for window film, using the same scale used by the sun screen manufacturers?

Since an SPF 15 allows you to stay in the sun without burning fifteen times longer than you could if you didn't use any sunscreen, the calculation of the SPF for window film is fairly easy. The number is very large indeed. If the film product allows less than 1% UV transmission, the SPF would be about 100 or more. With 1.5% UV transmission, the SPF is 66.66. With a UV transmission of 2%, the SPF would be 50, etc. Simply divide 100 by the percentage of UV transmission. Make sure that your UV transmission number covers the whole range of UVA and UVB radiation. NOTICE: While this computation is easy to perform, it must be said that most dermatologists don't think numbers larger than about 20 are meaningful. Moreover, these SPF numbers are officially determined by actual skin testing according to an established experimental protocol. It is not permissible to make such claims about actual SPF numbers without having these skin tests performed by a qualified laboratory.