The degree to which a film’s surface can resist rubbing or wearing away by friction.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive based on high-strength acrylic polymers that can be coated as a solvent or emulsion adhesive system.

A measurement of how much force is needed to remove a film from a surface or target substrate.

A substance that can hold materials together by attaching to their surfaces.

The temperature of a substrate or pressure sensitive material at the time the film will be applied.

A condition when ink passes through to the other side of a film, usually caused by the film being too thin or the ink being applied too heavily.

A specialised method of extrusion employed to produce thin thermo-plastic PVC films.

Thickness, usually measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch.

A method employed to produce very thin thermo-plastic PVC. The primary difference in manufacture between casting and calendering is that the PVC formula is processed into a totally liquid state before fashioning and curing into its final sheet form.

The ability of a pressure-sensitive film to resist the deteriorating effects of exposure to various chemicals under certain conditions.

Method of manufacturing that combines various plastic polymers to produce a range of colours, clarities, and modifications such as flame retardance, impact strength, opacity, weatherability, and elasticity.

Applying a clear pressure sensitive film to a graphic to protect or enhance the graphic quality.

The ability of a pressure-sensitive material to follow the contours of a curved or rough target surface.

A product manufactured through co-extrusion that features combined properties of various polymers.

The deterioration of a film over time, exhibited by cracking, chalking, blistering, colour fading, etc.

The separation of dissimilar materials in almost parallel direction, thereby forming a gap.

The quantity of a substance per unit of measure, especially per unit length, area, or volume; the mass per unit volume of a substance under specified conditions of pressure and temperature; or the degree of optical opacity of a medium or material.

The measured characteristic (movement, shrinkage, or structural memory) of PVC film when placed under conditions of stress such as thermal variance and UV (ultraviolet) exposure.

The capability of a material to withstand wear and tear, decay and degradation.

A method of printing in which images are formed by electrically charging a specially treated paper to attract toner to it.

A water-based fluid that distributes and transports adhesive particles evenly.

Any material, including paper, film, or foil, that can be converted into pressure-sensitive material by adhesive coating.

A thin, flexible material composed of fused molecules.

The surface property of a film determined by its texture and gloss.

The capability of a facestock to readily conform to curved and/or irregular surfaces.

A shiny finish on a smooth surface such as PVC film or paint.

Thickness of a material, measured in thousandths of an inch (also see caliper).

Non-uniform discolouration or coating of a face material.

A measurement of how much light can pass through a material. Also, a film’s ability to prevent dark printing, etc., from showing through on a substrate.

The vaporisation of a solid or liquid. Outgassing can occur in some plastics and insufficiently dried paints, resulting in adhesive failure of films applied over them.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive that has relatively high ultimate adhesion. As a result, the film either cannot be removed intact or requires a great deal of force to be removed.

Polyester that has been chemically modified and developed into a UV-resistant co-polyester. PETG meshes the strength of polycarbonate with the weatherability characteristic of acrylics.

The agent added to a PVC formulation that gives it its specific desired colouring.

Any of various organic compounds produced by polymerization, capable of being molded, extruded, cast into various shapes and films, or drawn into filaments used as textile fibers. If the materials soften again when re-heated, they are said to be thermoset.

A modifier added to polyvinylchloride that softens the PVC giving it its elastic quality.

The condition of the softening agent or modifier used in PVC formulations (typically after field application and under stress extreme thermal variance or UV degradation) moving within the other cured components of the PVC. This creates application failure in pressure sensitive films where the plasticisers are found to migrate into the adhesive system causing the film to delaminate from the substrate surface.

A basic method to shape molten plastic resins. Likened to squeezing toothpaste out of a tube.

A high molecular weight organic compound, natural or synthetic, with a structure that can be represented by a repeated small unit, the monomer (e.g., polyethylene, rubber and cellulose). Synthetic polymers are formed by the addition of condensation polymerisation of monomers. If two or more different monomers are involved, a co-polymer is obtained. Some polymers are elastomers, some plastics.

A multi-dimensional agent (linked chains of molecules) used to soften PVC.

The pressure-sensitive tape used to transfer a cut graphic from its liner to the substrate or to protect a given surface.

A laminate comprised of a film, a pressure-activated adhesive, and a silicone-coated liner. The adhesive requires no heat, solvent, or other preparation to stick to smooth, clean surfaces.

An acronym for polyvinylchloride, PVC is a thermoplastic that is strong and especially resistant to water, acids, and abrasion.

The portion of the pressure-sensitive construction that protects the film’s adhesive before being applied. The backing readily separates from the film immediately before it is placed on the substrate or target surface.

A measurement of the amount of force needed to remove the release liner from its facestock at a specific speed and angle.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive that has low ultimate adhesion. This type of adhesive leaves minimal residue, staining, or damage on the substrate upon removal.

A polyester fabric set in between two layers of PVC. Scrim used in the fabric manufacturing process has a top coat or an overlaminate film to prevent plasticiser migration and protect it from dirt, pollution, and other contaminants. This reinforces the fabric for mounting to frameworks to create backlit awnings.

The temperature, typically expressed in ?F, that a pressure-sensitive film will be subjected to during the 24-hour period immediately after it is applied to a substrate.

The internal or cohesive strength of a substance.

The amount of time that a product can be stored under specified conditions and still be suitable for use.

The tendency of pressure-sensitive film to shrink over time, characterised by exposed adhesive at the edges of the graphic.

Any of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperatures; used in lubricants, adhesives, coatings, synthetic rubber, and electrical insulation.

A fluid that is based in a solvent to distribute and transport adhesive particles evenly.

The resistance of a pressure-sensitive film to the effects of specific organic liquids.

The target surface to which a pressure-sensitive graphic film is applied.

The ability of a pressure-sensitive film to stick to a substrate instantly with nominal pressure or contact time.

A process of creating an image by transferring ink from a temperature-sensitive ribbon onto a printable surface using heat and pressure.

A condition, attributed to mechanical stress, when the bond between a pressure sensitive film and its liner or substrate is not strong enough to hold the film in place, which causes it to delaminate and pucker.

The characteristic of a pressure sensitive film that prevents it from being removed after it adheres to a substrate for a period of time. Although the time needed for ultimate adhesion typically occurs within about 24 hours after application, it can vary based on the types of adhesive and substrate used and the conditions under which the film was applied.

A specialised method of producing very thin PVC film that has been employed primarily by a small segment of European face-stock producers for use in the graphics industry. Unlike methods historically more typical to the U.S. market, this advanced technique is utilised to produce both high-performance and intermediate-performance graphic films. Ultra-calendering produces the important desirable performance characteristics for use in the self-adhesive end product.

Wave lengths in the light spectrum that are shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays. Ultraviolet light is the primary cause of pigment failure in paints and pressure sensitive graphic films.

A material’s ability to resist long-term exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet) without suffering degradation, hardening, or excessive discoloration.

The industry slang terminology for self-adhesive graphic films produced incorporating a typical facestock of Polyvinylchloride.

A film’s ability to resist the long-term effects of time and outdoor conditions, such as sunlight, rain, snow, cold, heat, humidity, and pollution, that can cause it to degrade, become discoloured, etc.

The process of leaving behind the final sections of a computer cut graphic by peeling away the extraneous pieces of film.

A method of applying a vinyl graphic to a substrate by using a fluid to assist with positioning it.