According to advice from the Ninety eight Auto Repair, Maintenance and Care Center (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), heat-resistant films are important equipment to help reduce heat, limit ultraviolet (UV) rays and increase comfort when using cars.
However, like many other materials, heat-resistant film does not have a permanent lifespan. After many years of use, the film layer will gradually age, reducing heat resistance and directly affecting the driver's ability to observe, especially when moving at night.
Technicians at Ninety eight Auto said that the easiest sign to recognize is the phenomenon of glass appearing with a matte layer or like a "mist" layer when viewed from inside the car. During the day, this phenomenon may not be obvious, but in the evening, lights from cars going in the opposite direction will be strongly scattered, making the image in front blurry, dazzling and difficult to observe.
The main reason is that the glue layer of heat-resistant film has "aging" or melted after a long period of use. At that time, the film layer no longer retains its original transparency, causing light transmitted through the glass to be refracted in many directions. This not only reduces visibility but also makes the driver quickly tired eyes, even dizzy when driving in low light conditions.
In addition to opacity, old insulation films may also experience peeling, blisters, or separation from the glass surface. Initially, the peeling layer only appears at a small angle but will spread over time, losing its aesthetics and reducing insulation efficiency.
Another sign is that the film surface appears with tiny cracks or cracks. This is a sign that the material has aged, causing light to be broken in many directions, distorting the viewing image and increasing the glare when car lights shine directly.
Ninety eight Auto recommends that when the above signs appear, car owners should remove the old film and apply new film. Continuing to use degraded film not only makes heat and UV protection almost ineffective but also increases the risk of unsafety due to limited visibility.
Car owners also need to note that the phenomenon of blurred or distorted vision in many cases does not originate from the car window but comes from the heat-resistant film. Car glass only causes distortion when it is seriously scratched or has been repaired incorrectly. Therefore, if the glass is still intact but the image through the glass is blurred or scattered, the car owner should check the heat-resistant film first.
To extend the lifespan, users should choose high-quality heat-resistant films from reputable brands and install them correctly. Under normal use conditions, many types of films can maintain their effectiveness for 10 to 15 years, limiting the phenomenon of glue melting, peeling and maintaining transparency for a long time.
