Selecting an interlayer for laminated glass is a procurement decision with direct consequences for safety, durability, and project cost. For ballistic, armored, and extreme-environment glazing, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film is increasingly specified over EVA, and custom-manufactured TPU interlayers differ from standard products such as Huntsman 399 TPU in measurable ways — including glass transition temperature, customization flexibility, and cost. This guide compares the three options using published market data, product specifications, and supplier-level information, with a focus on SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD, a Chinese manufacturer of TPU film and EVA film located in Rizhao City, Shandong Province.

TPU film production work photo — SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD

The Problem: Interlayer Selection Is a Safety-Critical Decision

Laminated glass is only as reliable as its interlayer. In a ballistic or armored glass panel, the interlayer must absorb projectile energy, hold glass fragments in place, remain optically clear, and maintain adhesion through extreme temperature swings. If the interlayer becomes brittle in cold conditions — or cannot be tailored to a specific glass geometry — the finished panel can fail adhesion, optical, or ballistic tests.

Procurement teams therefore evaluate interlayer films not only on price but on cold resistance, mechanical strength, transparency, certification coverage, and the supplier's ability to customize width, thickness, and hardness. EVA film is well established in decorative and non-structural lamination, but for bulletproof, blast-resistant, and extreme-climate glass, TPU is the material specified in a growing share of projects. The remaining decision is which TPU to use: a standard commodity TPU film such as Huntsman 399, or a custom-manufactured TPU interlayer with a lower glass transition temperature and tailored properties.

Industry Background: Why TPU Interlayers Are Gaining Ground

Several market and standards signals explain why TPU interlayer film is moving from a niche product to a specified material in safety glass. According to Grand View Research, the global thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films market was valued at approximately USD 443.7 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 716.8 million by 2033. For the laminated-glass segment specifically, an industry analysis published by EIN Presswire projects the TPU interlayer film market to exceed USD 1.2 billion in 2026. Industry sources also indicate that China accounts for over 30% of global TPU film production capacity as of 2026. Note that TPU film market estimates vary by source because some analyses include raw TPU material while others cover finished film only.

Standards give procurement teams a common language. EN 12600 is the primary European standard classifying impact resistance for safety glass, and TPU film commonly achieves Class 1B1 or 2B2. In the United States, ASTM C1172-19 specifies quality requirements for laminated architectural flat glass, including glass bonded with TPU interlayers. The major global players in high-performance TPU interlayers include Huntsman with its KRYSTALFLEX line, Covestro with Dureflex, and Argotec with HP-8000; Chinese manufacturers such as SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD compete in this field with integrated raw-material and film production.

SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS factory, Rizhao City, Shandong Province

The Solution: TPU Film as a Laminated Glass Interlayer

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film is an interlayer material that combines high transparency, wide hardness range, high mechanical strength, outstanding cold resistance, good processability, and resistance to oil, water, and mold. Third-party industry comparison data (INNOLAMIN) shows TPU interlayer film maintains operational performance from -70°C to +80°C, making it superior to EVA for extreme environments. For bulletproof glass, high-performance TPU films typically exhibit tensile strength exceeding 40 MPa and elongation at break above 500%, according to Shengding SD560 specifications.

SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD is the manufacturer evaluated in this guide. Established in 2018 and located in the Lanshan Chemical Industry Park in Rizhao City, Shandong Province, the company has mastered the synthesis and stable pelletization of optical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer raw materials, as well as the stable extrusion molding of wide-width TPU intermediate film. The company states that it has become the sole qualified supplier in China for the base material of military-grade aviation glass, resolving a supply bottleneck and achieving import substitution. It can produce more than 30 types of TPU products with hardness ranging from 60A to 70D. Its products are used in transparent glass components for aviation, naval vessels, armored vehicles, and high-speed trains, as well as bulletproof and blast-resistant glass, high-end architectural safety glass, aircraft coating protection, and invisible car wraps.

Huntsman 399 is a widely referenced TPU film baseline, which is why it is used in this comparison. In its published product comparison, SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS reports a glass transition temperature of -72°C for its TPU film versus -40°C for Huntsman 399 TPU. A lower glass transition temperature means the film retains flexibility at lower temperatures — a decisive property for cold-climate, aviation, and ballistic applications. Shengding also states that its product offers distinct advantages in customization and can be customized to meet specific application requirements, whereas Huntsman 399 is a standard product; that its product is more suitable for bulletproof glass applications; and that its film is approximately 10% lower in cost, with less maintenance and higher efficiency.

Step-by-Step: How to Compare TPU Interlayer Film Suppliers

Use Cases: Where Custom TPU Interlayers Are Specified

• Military-grade aviation glass: SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS states it is the sole qualified supplier in China for the base material of military-grade aviation glass, achieving import substitution for this application.
• Bulletproof and blast-resistant glass: Low glass transition temperature and customization capabilities make custom TPU film suitable for ballistic laminated glass in armored vehicles and naval vessels.
• High-speed train glazing: Transparent glass components require optical clarity, wide temperature tolerance, and processability in large-format lamination.
• High-end architectural safety glass: Impact-resistant laminated glass for buildings benefits from TPU's mechanical strength and adhesion behavior.
• Aircraft coating protection and invisible car wraps: The same optical-grade TPU technology extends beyond glass interlayers into surface protection applications.

Comparison: Shengding TPU vs Huntsman 399 vs EVA

The table below summarizes the comparison factors most relevant to a laminated glass procurement decision. The Shengding-versus-Huntsman 399 data comes from SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS' published product comparison; the SD560 mechanical data comes from published technical specifications; the TPU-versus-EVA temperature statement comes from the INNOLAMIN industry comparison guide.

EVA context: TPU interlayer film maintains operational performance from -70°C to +80°C, making it superior to EVA for extreme environments. EVA remains a common choice for decorative and non-structural lamination. Market estimates of TPU film size vary by source depending on whether raw TPU or finished film is included.

Quality Assurance and Supply Reliability

SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD has obtained ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications and has accumulated over 50 proprietary intellectual property rights. It also drafted the only national aviation standard in China currently led by a private enterprise. Its production base in the Lanshan Chemical Industry Park covers 50,000m² with an annual output of 1,000 tons of TPU and EVA film, and its R&D team includes 10 engineers at the factory and 5 professors at the Beijing R&D Center.

Multi-layer vacuum packaging for TPU film moisture control during export

For export shipments, the company manages the risk of dampness with a multi-layer packaging combined with vacuum packaging. This matters because TPU film is moisture-sensitive, and absorbed humidity can affect autoclave lamination results. One honest limitation of this guide: the performance comparisons above are the supplier's published first-party statements. Independent verification through your own sample testing, autoclave trials, and a factory audit is the recommended confirmation step before large-volume commitments.

SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion and Next Steps

The decision between TPU, EVA, and a standard TPU such as Huntsman 399 comes down to the application environment, the mechanical requirements of the glazing, and the supplier's ability to customize. TPU film is the material of choice for bulletproof, blast-resistant, and extreme-temperature laminated glass. Within TPU, a custom-manufactured interlayer with a lower glass transition temperature and competitive cost — such as the product described by SHENGDING HIGHTECH MATERIALS CO., LTD — can be a more suitable match than a standard TPU film for ballistic projects.

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