How Does Static Cling Window Film Work?

If you have a smooth, non-porous surface or a screen door, then you have a spot for a static cling window film. Whether you are about to undertake a new house redecorating project throughout your entire home, need to breathe new life into a single room, want an easy way to add some much needed relaxation to your office space, want to add some extra fun elements to your children’s rooms, you can easily find a window film to satisfy a very wide variety of goals.

Not only that, but you can also look for window film that give you some stylish, fun, and beautiful options for special occasions. Thanks to the ease of installation—simply peel and apply—you can get static cling window film for a special one time event and then remove for your next event. That is why static clings have become so popular for birthday parties, special celebrations such as anniversaries, office parties, and much more.

The Science Behind Static Cling Window Film

First things first, it helps to know a little bit about how static cling works. Understanding how static cling works will help you determine the best places to place your window clings. When most people hear of static cling window film, they tend to immediately think because static clings have no adhesive property that they probably adhere to the surface using a static charge or static electricity. Good guess, but not accurate. That is because static electricity works when two surfaces touch each other and the electrons move from one object to another. One object will have a positive charge and the other object will have a negative charge. Items with different charges (positive and negative) will be attracted to each other, while items with similar charges (positive and positive) will push away from each other.

But you do not need static electricity for static cling window film to work. The static cling window films actually work because of the thin vinyl material, which actually work like mini suction cups when they are pressed onto a similar cohesive force or surface. What is quite interesting is that these similar surfaces form a bond with each other after even the slightest bit of pressure is applied. Thus, all you need is a smooth, clean, and non porous surface to apply the static window clings. No adhesives are needed to create the bond, which means no sticky or messy residue is left behind on the surface, which creates an extremely versatile signage option assuming you have a non-porous surface to apply it to. So, while these static cling window films work best indoor, you can place them on any number of surfaces for any purposes.

Vinyl Clings vs. Static Clings

Vinyl clings and static clings are often referred to interchangeably. However, there are some key differences that you might want to consider before you buy your window clings. Vinyl decals are essentially clings that are made from a heavier duty material. While still thin, vinyl decals are thicker and more robust than simply static clings. While some vinyl decals are simply thicker than static clings and can be applied without the use of adhesive, a big difference compared to static clings is that vinyl decals typically require some type of additional adhesive to apply them. This means that they can typically be applied to a greater variety of surfaces, including glass, metal, wood and plastic. In addition, because of their hardier material, vinyl decals can sometimes be used outdoor, which delivers some added flexibility in use. Vinyl decals should be considered for long term use because they will require some patience and likely a heat source (for example, a hair dryer) to remove them. A great situation to use a vinyl decal would be a vinyl wall mural.

Static clings are very similar to vinyl decals, but they are very easy to remove, which means you can swap and switch them around throughout your home, car, or office without having to spend any time removing them. They can be applied just as easily as they can be removed. Static clings work best on glass, but can also be applied to smooth, clean, and non-porous surfaces such as plastic and metal. That is why you would need a vinyl decal for a wall mural and not a static cling. Similarly, you would need to consider a vinyl decal if you wanted to put something on a sign outside of your home because regular static clings are not suitable for outdoor use.

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