Although both TPU interlayer film and traditional Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) interlayer film belong to the category of safety glass interlayer materials, their performance differs significantly:
1. Mechanical Properties: TPU generally has higher tensile strength, tear strength, and elongation at break than PVB, with particularly outstanding toughness (elasticity), offering better impact resistance and energy absorption capacity.
2. Weather Resistance: TPU has excellent resistance to UV aging and damp heat, making it less prone to yellowing, bubbling, or delamination over long-term use, resulting in a longer lifespan.
3. Temperature Adaptability: The glass transition temperature (Tg) of TPU can be as low as -68°C, allowing it to remain flexible in extremely cold environments, whereas PVB becomes hard and brittle at low temperatures.
4. Optical Performance: High-end optical-grade TPU can achieve extreme levels of light transmittance and purity, with very low haze and minimal optical distortion.
5. Processability: TPU is not sensitive to moisture and does not require the strict dehumidification environment and pre-pressing procedures necessary for PVB.
Therefore, TPU is the preferred choice for higher-end and more demanding application scenarios (e.g., aviation, bulletproof), while PVB is more widely used in ordinary architectural and automotive windshield glass.