For medical product companies, converters and private-label buyers, sourcing PU film involves much more than selecting a width and asking for a price.

Polyurethane film can be used as a flexible material or component in a wide range of medical and skin-protection products. However, the requirements of a wound dressing may be very different from those of an IV dressing, tattoo protection film or waterproof skin patch.

Thickness, surface finish, transparency, adhesive system, release liner, coating weight, converting method and finished-product requirements can all influence the final material specification.

This means buyers should begin with one important question:

What finished product will this PU film be used for?

Once the intended application is clear, it becomes much easier to determine the appropriate film structure, adhesive configuration, dimensions and converting requirements.

1. Start with the Finished Product, Not Just the Film

One of the most common mistakes in PU film sourcing is treating polyurethane film as a single standardized material.

In practice, different downstream applications may require different film constructions and performance characteristics.

PU film supplied and converted by Wuhan Hangu can support applications such as tattoo protection films, surgical films, wound dressings, IV dressings, beauty patches, waterproof skin-protection patches and scar-care products.

However, the same PU film specification should not automatically be used for every application.

A wound-care product, for example, may have different requirements for transparency, adhesive performance, release liner and converting compared with a tattoo protection film.

For this reason, buyers should provide information about the intended finished product before asking a manufacturer to recommend a material.

Instead of simply asking:

“Please quote your PU film.”

A more useful sourcing inquiry should include the intended application, dimensions, structure, adhesive requirements and expected converting process.

2. Understand the Basic PU Film Specifications

Once the application has been defined, buyers can begin comparing the physical specifications of the material.

Wuhan Hangu currently offers PU film with both gloss and matte surface options. A commonly produced film thickness is approximately 0.02 mm, while other specifications can be discussed according to project requirements.

Common roll formats include:

• 5 cm × 10 m
• 10 cm × 10 m
• 15 cm × 10 m
• 20 cm × 10 m

For suitable customized projects, roll length can reach up to approximately 300 m.

Wider material can also be discussed for converting requirements, with production width reaching up to approximately 108 cm, depending on the project.

These specifications should be treated as starting points rather than a reason to select a material simply because it is already available.

For OEM projects, film dimensions should match both the finished-product design and downstream converting process.

Moving significantly outside standard specifications may affect production efficiency, MOQ and lead time.

3. Gloss or Matte: Surface Finish Is More Than Appearance

Gloss and matte PU films create different visual appearances, but surface finish should not be selected based only on aesthetics.

The final decision should also consider the intended application, transparency requirement, product structure and converting process.

This is especially important for private-label and OEM projects where the material may become part of a finished product with specific appearance and handling requirements.

When comparing samples, buyers can evaluate:

• Surface appearance
• Transparency
• Flexibility
• Handling characteristics
• Compatibility with the intended structure
• Performance after converting

Actual material samples are therefore more useful than making a final decision from photographs alone.

4. Adhesive Performance Is a Key Part of PU Film Sourcing

For adhesive-coated PU film projects, the adhesive system can be just as important as the film itself.

Wuhan Hangu primarily works with medical-grade acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive for PU film applications.

Depending on project requirements, the dry adhesive coating weight can be adjusted within approximately 20–50 g/m², with 30–35 g/m² being a commonly used range.

The 180° peel strength can also be adjusted within approximately 0.5–6 N/5 cm, allowing low-, medium- or high-adhesion constructions to be developed according to the intended application.

Different coating patterns can also be discussed, including:

• Full coating
• Dot coating
• Grid coating

These options are important because stronger adhesion is not automatically better.

The appropriate adhesive level should be selected according to the intended substrate, application, wear requirements and finished-product design.

For special projects, silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive can also be considered where lower-trauma removal characteristics are required. In such cases, the release system must be matched accordingly.

Where sterilization is required for the finished product, material and adhesive compatibility should also be evaluated according to the selected sterilization method and project requirements.

Note: The ranges above describe available customization capabilities and should not be interpreted as the specification of every PU film product.

5. Release Liner Selection Should Not Be Overlooked

The release liner is another important part of an adhesive PU film construction.

Depending on the project, Wuhan Hangu can work with different release materials, including:

• Glassine release paper
• PET release film

The release material can also support customized features such as:

• Printed grids
• Identification marks
• Easy-tear cuts
• Customized printing

Silicone-coated release systems are commonly used, while non-silicone release options can be considered for applications where silicone migration needs to be avoided or where the adhesive system requires a different release construction.

Release force can be adjusted within approximately 5–150 g/50 mm, while 15–35 g/50 mm represents a commonly used range.

This parameter should not be considered independently.

Release force needs to work together with adhesive characteristics, die-cutting requirements, application method and the design of the finished product.

6. MVTR, Water Resistance and Peel Strength: Read Test Data Carefully

For medical and skin-protection applications, buyers may encounter technical data relating to peeling strength, water resistance and MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate).

These measurements can be useful when evaluating a material, but they should always be considered together with the product structure, test method and batch information.

For example, a Wuhan Hangu Certificate of Analysis for one specific 40 × 30 cm PU Film batch recorded:

Peeling Strength: 3.15 N/cm

Water Resistance: No observed leakage under 500 mm hydrostatic pressure for 300 seconds

MVTR: 672.8 g/(m²·24h)

The conclusion of that batch test indicated that the listed results met the defined technical requirements.

However, buyers should not interpret these figures as universal specifications for every PU film supplied by Wuhan Hangu.

They are batch-specific test results.

Different film constructions, adhesive systems, coating weights and customer specifications may result in different performance values.

When reviewing technical data, buyers should therefore ask:

What product or batch was tested?

What test method was used?

What acceptance criteria apply to my specification?

Does the tested construction match the material I am purchasing?

This provides a much more meaningful basis for supplier evaluation than comparing isolated performance numbers.

7. Check Whether the Supplier Can Actually Convert the Material

Material specifications are only one part of the sourcing decision.

For buyers requiring finished or semi-finished products, converting capability can be equally important.

Wuhan Hangu carries out key PU film manufacturing and converting processes in-house, including:

Coating → Laminating → Slitting → Die Cutting

The factory is equipped with coating, laminating, slitting and die-cutting equipment to support different product formats and OEM requirements.

This allows material specifications to be evaluated together with downstream converting requirements.

For example, a change in adhesive coating, release liner, film dimensions or finished-product shape may also influence die-cutting efficiency and production yield.

For OEM buyers, working with a manufacturer that understands both the material and downstream converting process can simplify communication during product development.

8. Customization Should Be Confirmed Before the Final Quote

For OEM projects, customization requirements should be discussed before buyers treat a quotation as final.

Depending on the project, customization can include:

• Film thickness
• Width
• Roll length
• Color
• Transparency
• Adhesive properties
• Adhesive coating weight
• Coating pattern
• Release liner
• Release force
• Printing
• Finished-product structure

MOQ

For PU film rolls, the confirmed MOQ is:

MOQ: 1,000 rolls

The final production arrangement may still depend on the selected dimensions, adhesive system, release material and degree of customization.

Buyers should also be aware that moving significantly outside standard material parameters may affect converting yield, MOQ and lead time.

Customized constructions should therefore be evaluated through production trials where necessary.

If sterilization is required for the finished product, sterilization compatibility should also be evaluated according to the selected materials, adhesive system and sterilization process.

This is why providing a detailed specification sheet or application description is often more useful to a manufacturer than simply requesting the “lowest price.”

9. Use Samples Before Moving to Mass Production

Samples are especially important when sourcing PU film because several characteristics are difficult to evaluate from specifications or photographs alone.

Available stock samples can be provided free of charge, with courier costs paid by the customer.

Existing samples can normally be dispatched within approximately 3–5 days.

For customized development, the sample lead time is approximately:

15 days

Regular and customized mass-production orders generally require approximately:

30 days

Actual timing is subject to the confirmed specification, order requirements and production arrangement.

During sample evaluation, buyers should check not only the appearance of the film but also how the material performs in the intended finished product.

For customized constructions, both sides should confirm the approved specification or approved sample before mass production.

10. A Practical PU Film Sourcing Checklist

Before placing an order with a PU film manufacturer, buyers can use the following checklist:

Application — What finished product will the PU film be used for?

Film Thickness — Is a standard thickness suitable, or is customization required?

Width & Roll Length — What dimensions are required for the converting process?

Surface Finish — Gloss or matte?

Transparency / Color — What appearance does the finished product require?

Adhesive System — What adhesive type and adhesion level are required?

Coating Weight — Does the project require a specific dry adhesive coating weight?

Coating Pattern — Full coating, dot coating or grid coating?

Release Liner — Glassine paper, PET film or another matched construction?

Release Force — Does the release performance match the application and die-cutting process?

Performance Testing — Which test items and acceptance criteria apply?

Converting — Does the project require coating, laminating, slitting or die cutting?

Sterilization Compatibility — Will the finished product undergo EO or irradiation sterilization, and has the selected construction been evaluated accordingly?

Samples — Is an existing sample sufficient, or is a customized sample required?

MOQ — The current confirmed MOQ for PU film rolls is 1,000 rolls.

Lead Time — Approximately 15 days for customized samples and 30 days for regular/customized mass production, subject to project requirements.

A clear sourcing checklist helps buyers compare suppliers according to the actual needs of the project rather than price alone.

11. Choosing a PU Film Manufacturing Partner

A suitable PU film manufacturer should be able to do more than provide a standard roll from stock.

For medical, wound-care and skin-protection projects, buyers may benefit from working with a supplier that can discuss the film, adhesive system, release liner, converting process, quality requirements and finished-product application as one complete project.

Wuhan Hangu Technology supports PU film manufacturing together with in-house coating, laminating, slitting and die-cutting capabilities, as well as customization of material specifications and product structures.

For buyers developing a new PU film application, the most effective starting point is to provide the intended application, target dimensions, adhesive requirements, product structure and other customization requirements.

From there, the material and converting solution can be evaluated together before moving from sampling to mass production.

Contact Wuhan Hangu Technology to discuss PU film specifications, samples or OEM development requirements.