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Is Window Tint Sticky?
How does tint stick to glass? Are there different types of adhesives?

Automotive window tint has come a long way since its inception. These days, tint is used not only to improve the way their vehicle looks, but also to protect vehicle interiors from solar damage, reject excess heat, reduce the likelihood of smash-and-grab crime, and mitigate eye strain. In fact, you can get tints without the tint: ceramic films let you get all the benefits of window tint without changing the look of your vehicle. Read about the many varieties of tints available from Diversity right here.

The adhesive is important for helping tint retain its performance over many years – bad adhesives will cause tint to bubble and peel away. Here’s what you need to know about modern tint adhesives.

On every window film, there is a clear protective liner, usually made of polyester, which is used to cover the adhesive part and protect it from contamination before installation. Window film technology has a variety of adhesives, but they generally fall into two categories: a dry and a sticky. What’s the difference?

Dry Adhesive

Dry adhesives are typically used on window tint destined for use on flat glass windows. You won’t notice anything sticky when you remove the protective film. The adhesive is water-activated (WAA) usually by spraying with a solution of soap and water and can be moved and repositioned on the window before squeegeeing into place.

The recommended used for dry adhesive type of window film are residential houses, commercial buildings and especially a large, flat expanse of glass.

Sticky Adhesive

Sticky adhesive is sticky to the touch. Also known as pressure-sensitive (PS), this type of adhesive is most commonly used in automotive applications, and will retain a high adhesion, even on the curved glass. PS window film is specifically tested to ensure a high optical quality with an undistorted view through combination of glass and film.

It’s due to the curvature of the glass that requires the pressure-sensitive window film to be stronger and tackier to ensure that it does not warp or degrade. The application of window tint with a PS adhesive still includes a soap and water solution, the film also requires it to be heat-shrunk to uniformly cover the curved shape of the windows. This is where added pressure from your squeegee is a necessary step to ensure maximum window film performance. This is where the term, “pressure-sensitive” originates.

All of the films we use at Diversity are pressure-sensitive, and we heat shrink every installation before curing under infrared lamps to guarantee you a perfect fit and finish every time.

Do you have window tinting needs that aren’t being met? Give us a call, we would love to talk to you about your options.

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