What is the difference between PU and TPU materials for car covers?
2 Answers
The difference between PU and TPU materials for car covers lies in their material properties. Here are the details: 1. PU: The material used is polyurethane. Compared to PVC material, its advantage is improved toughness; however, it has poor weather resistance, weak resistance to alkaline corrosion, tends to yellow over time, cannot be repaired, and has poor anti-stain performance. 2. TPU: The material used is thermoplastic polyurethane. Its advantages include excellent impact resistance, puncture resistance, and scratch resistance, stable thermal repair function, strong water repellency, superior anti-corrosion and stain resistance, high-temperature resistance, as well as low-temperature resistance, oil resistance, and chemical resistance. This material is recyclable and environmentally friendly. The downside is its complex manufacturing process and higher price.
I've been running a car detailing shop for ten years and have seen countless car wrap cases. PU material is essentially ordinary polyurethane, which feels like thick plastic sheeting—it's cheap but not durable at all. After two years of sun exposure, it becomes brittle and starts cracking, and small stones can easily leave dents. TPU, on the other hand, is far superior. It's a type of thermoplastic polyurethane, with its standout feature being self-healing properties. Last year, we wrapped a Porsche with TPU film, and scratches from tree branches disappeared after just half an hour in the sun. Additionally, TPU's resistance to yellowing is at least three times that of PU. We tested products from the same brand in our shop: PU showed noticeable yellowing after six months, while TPU remained clear and bright even after three years. However, TPU installation is more demanding—it requires special application fluid, and improper installation can easily lead to bubbling.
