Why does the paint protection film on the vehicle's surface appear flawed and distorted when wearing polarized sunglasses?

This phenomenon is quite common with paint protection films of all brands and is attributed to the difference in refractive index between the film and the vehicle's paint.

It becomes most pronounced on compound-curved surfaces, where the film must be stretched during installation to prevent wrinkles. This stretching causes a slight thinning of the film in those areas, leading to the visual effect observed when wearing polarized glasses.

The same effect can occur on flat surfaces when a drying solution, such as alcohol and water, is used to achieve the required bond to the paint. This is due to variations in the viscosity of these fluids and their impact on the adhesive's properties.

Polarized eyewear can induce this effect on surfaces made of various composite materials, not limited to paint protection film.

In summary, this phenomenon results from the differences in the properties of the protection film and the paint, along with the thickness variation caused by stretching. It creates a visual effect when viewed through polarized lenses but does not affect the film's performance or protective capabilities.