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3M Safety and Security film's patented micro-layered polyester film offers significantly more tear and penetration resistance strength than the competitors conventional PET films.  They can even out perform films twice their thickness.  Also the competitors films usually have distortion in them while 3M films are optically correct. The following chart compares 3M Ultra films to the competitors 8-mil PET.

Physical Properties and Test Performance Comparison
 

Competitors 8 mil PET

3M Ultra 400 Series

3M Ultra 600 Series

 Results
Film Thickness

.008 inches

.004 inches

.006 inches

 Doesn't Matter
Multiple Layers

2

26

39

 Advantage 3M
Graves Tear

>490 Lbs.%

>780 Lbs.%

>1,150 Lbs.%

 Higher Better
Young's Modulus

>600k PSI

>500k PSI

>500k PSI

 Lower-Flexible
Tensile Strength

25,000 PSI

30,000 PSI

30,000 PSI

 Higher Better
Elongation (Stretch)

130%

140%

140%

 Higher Better
Puncture Tear

6.1 Lbs.

8.7 Lbs.

19.2 Lbs.

 Higher Better
Building Code Compliance

No

BOCA

NA

  
 

4.0 PSI AG

4.0 PSI AG

Higher Blast Pressure

  
Large Scale Explosive

Day-lite            Level 3

Day-lite            Level 3

5.0 PSI   TTG

  
Open Air Blast Test per

4-sided Mech.   Level 3

4-sided Mech.  Level 3

 4-sided Mech.    Level 2  
GSA Security Criteria

Wet  Glaze        Level 3

Wet  Glaze       Level 3

    
         
   

4.0 PSI  TTG

9.0 PSI  TTG

  
    4-sided Mech.  Level 2 4-sided Mech.  Level 2  

Fact 1.  3M’s Ultra 400 series performs equal to and better than simple 8-mil PET film.

Fact 2.  3M ULTRA600 is recommended for applications requiring even more strength.

Terms and Definitions

Multiple Layers: Multiple layering in film has proven to offer more ‘give’ when stressed under impact.
Ultra film’s micro-layer film technology delivers significant increased strength within each mil of thickness.
 
Graves Area Tear:  The measurement of a material to resist both initial tear as well as continued tearing.

When punctured Ultra films will continue to have high strength.
 

Young’s Modulus: A measurement of polymer flexibility.
The lower the value the more flexible (less boardy) the film is to absorb the impact.
 

Tensile Strength:  The resistance of a material to a force tending to pull it apart. Calculated from Break Strength.

Relates to how strong the product is when subjected to impact. The higher the value the more resistant the material.
 

Elongation:   Ability of a material to stretch.
Greater elongation allows the film to hold the glass together by stretching and absorbing impact energy.

Puncture Propagation Tear:  Resistance to Puncture and Tear.

  

Greater resistance to Puncture and Tear means higher resistance to forced entry, bomb blast, storm cycling.

  
   
Building Code Compliance:  Meets building code compliance for use as a safety glazing system.  
Ultra 400 maintains a BOCA National Building Code Certificate of Compliance for use as a safety glazing system.  
   
Large Scale Explosive Blast Tests: Standards to evaluate the hazard mitigation performance of a glazing system.  
The results demonstrated that glass treated with 3M Scotchshield Ultra 400 & ULTRA600 offered significant increased protection against the dangers of flying glass caused by explosive blast loads. Several systems met GSA Criteria for Class C and Class D Level Buildings.