Protex Protective Paper & Film — Full Product Guide
Protex Protective Paper & Film, Explained
Which Mask-Off Protex tape do you need? A plain-English guide to every stocked grade — scratch-protection paper, heavy-duty composite masking, and transparent UV film — matched to your surface and BAC 5034 callout.
Protex, made by Mask-Off Company since 1950, is the aerospace industry's specified line of protective papers and films — used to shield aluminum skins, canopies, windshields, composites, and painted surfaces during manufacturing, finishing, and transport. Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Gulfstream, and Bombardier all rely on specified Protex products. Every stocked grade is qualified to Boeing BAC 5034, Type IV, Class I, Grade A — so the real decision isn't "which one meets the spec," it's which one fits your surface and your process. This guide sorts them by paper vs. film and points you to the right product.
Ready to browse everything with live pricing and stock? See the full Protex collection.
Shop All Protex →Important: Protex protective tapes are not intended for fly-away applications. Test before use on copper, brass, or anodized aluminum, and before any outdoor exposure. Every grade is silicone-free and die-cuttable with a flat release liner.
What the BAC 5034 callout means
All four stocked Protex products carry the same baseline Boeing designation — Type IV, Class I, Grade A — so the spec number alone won't tell you which to order. Here's what the code means, and the real choice underneath it.
Type identifies the family — pressure-sensitive surface-protection / masking tape. Protex latex papers and polyester films fall here.
Class is the performance band — the standard surface-protection class these grades are qualified to.
Grade is the adhesion/performance tier — the qualified grade across the Protex surface-protection range.
The real choice: paper (higher tack, scratch protection, drill-through) vs. polyester film (transparent, low-tack, UV/outdoor). Both qualify to BAC 5034.
One spec number, two branches. "BAC 5034" (surface protection, Type IV/Class I/Grade A) covers the Protex papers and films on this page. "BAC 5034-4" is a separate carpet / double-coated branch — if your callout reads BAC5034-4, you likely want a Polyken carpet tape instead. Our BAC 5034 guide breaks that down.
Category 01Protective Paper — Protex Paper Tapes
Latex-saturated papers give you higher tack and scratch protection, and can be masked through machining. The choice among the three is thickness and abrasion resistance: 5 for drill-through fabrication on metal skins, 10V for windows and canopies, 20V for heavy-duty composite and impact protection.
Category 02Protective Film — Protex Polyester Film
When you need transparency, UV resistance, clean low-tack removal, or high-temperature/outdoor exposure, reach for film instead of paper.
Need more than the four stocked grades? Mask-Off also makes additional Protex papers (40S, 10VS, 20VS, 50, 55, Sharpline, 20S) and composite hold-down films — including the 223 series (223-2, 223-5, 223-5HT, 223-5VHT) used to hold aluminum and Nomex honeycomb on the vacuum table during milling. We can order any Mask-Off grade, plus custom widths and die-cut shapes. Contact us for a quote →
Choose by what you're protecting
Every product below is qualified to BAC 5034, Type IV, Class I, Grade A. Pick by the surface and job, then confirm against the data sheet.
| If you need to… | Best fit | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Protect bare aluminum, titanium & painted skins through routing, drilling & riveting | 5-mil latex-saturated paper, drill-through, printed warning | Protex 5 |
| Protect acrylic/polycarbonate windows, canopies & windshields with added abrasion resistance | 10-mil vinyl-coated paper, die-cuttable | Protex 10V |
| Heavy-duty protection for composites, graphite tooling, windows & wing walk against impact | 20-mil heavy-duty vinyl-coated paper | Protex 20V |
| Protect where light transmission, UV resistance, high heat or outdoor exposure matters | 2-mil transparent low-tack polyester film, 325°F | Protex 8216-2L |
Rule of thumb: reach for paper (5, 10V, 20V) when you need higher tack, scratch resistance, and masking through machining; reach for film (8216-2L) when you need transparency, UV resistance, clean low-tack removal, or heat/outdoor exposure.
Full Protex comparison — all stocked grades
| Spec | Protex 5 | 10V | 20V | 8216-2L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Latex paper | Vinyl-coated paper | Vinyl-coated paper (heavy) | Polyester film |
| Color | Tan (red print) | Tan | Tan | Transparent green |
| Thickness | 4.1–5.1 mil | 9–12 mil | 19–23 mil | 2 mil |
| Adhesive | Natural latex | Natural latex | Natural latex | Acrylic (low tack) |
| Adhesion to steel | 17–22 oz/in | 30–40 oz/in | 30–40 oz/in | 1–3 oz/in |
| UV resistant | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Max temp | — | — | — | 325°F / autoclave |
| Drill-through | ✓ | — | — | — |
| BAC 5034 | Ty IV Cl I Gr A | Ty IV Cl I Gr A | Ty IV Cl I Gr A | Ty IV Cl I Gr A |
| Airbus AIMS | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| NSN | 8135-00-946-2090 | 7510-01-121-8267 | 8135-00-654-9834 | — |
| Roll sizes | 12–48″ × 60 yd | 12–48″ × 60 yd | 12–48″ × 30 yd | 12–48″ × 100 yd |
| Price from | $119.99 | $199.99 | $139.99 | $219.99 |
Values are typical, from current Mask-Off data sheets, and provided for reference — always confirm against the controlling drawing and current data sheet for your application. Custom widths and die-cut shapes available on request.
Protex comercial — guía rápida en español
Protex (fabricado por Mask-Off) es la línea de papeles y películas de protección de superficies para uso aeronáutico, aprobada Boeing BAC 5034. Para proteger pieles de aluminio durante el maquinado (taladrado, fresado), use el Protex 5. Para ventanas, cúpulas y parabrisas de acrílico, el 10V. Para composites y protección reforzada, el 20V. ¿Necesita película transparente con resistencia UV y al calor? El 8216-2L. Envíos a todo el mundo con Certificado de Conformidad. Ver todos los productos Protex →
Frequently asked questions
What is Protex tape used for?
Protex is a line of aerospace-grade protective papers and films made by Mask-Off. They shield aluminum skins, canopies, windshields, composites, and painted surfaces from scratches and impact during manufacturing, finishing, and transport. The papers (5, 10V, 20V) offer higher tack and scratch protection; the film (8216-2L) offers transparency and UV/heat resistance.
What's the difference between Protex 5, 10V, and 20V?
All three are BAC 5034 latex papers, differing in thickness and abrasion resistance. Protex 5 is a 5-mil paper you can drill and route through — used on aluminum skins during fabrication. Protex 10V is a 10-mil vinyl-coated paper for windows, canopies, and windshields. Protex 20V is a 20-mil heavy-duty vinyl-coated paper for composites, graphite tooling, and impact protection.
When should I use Protex 8216-2L film instead of paper?
Use the 8216-2L polyester film when you need transparency (light transmission during a process), UV resistance for outdoor exposure, clean low-tack removal, or high-temperature and autoclave use up to 325°F sustained (350°F autoclave). The latex papers are better where you need higher tack and scratch protection through machining.
Are Protex tapes approved to Boeing BAC 5034?
Yes — all four stocked Protex products are qualified to Boeing BAC 5034, Type IV, Class I, Grade A. Protex 20V and 8216-2L also carry Airbus AIMS 12-6-001, and Protex 5, 10V, and 20V are NSN-stocked. Mask-Off is an AS9100C and ISO 9001 certified manufacturer.
What is the difference between BAC 5034 and BAC 5034-4?
BAC 5034 (Type IV/Class I/Grade A) covers surface-protection masking tapes like the Protex papers and films. BAC 5034-4 is a separate branch covering double-coated and carpet tapes such as Polyken 105C and 108FR. If your callout reads BAC5034-4, you likely need a carpet tape rather than a Protex product — see our BAC 5034 guide.
Do you carry the Protex 223 composite hold-down series?
The 223 series (223-2, 223-5, 223-5HT, 223-5VHT) is a Mask-Off polyester film used to hold aluminum and Nomex honeycomb on the vacuum table during composite milling — a different application from surface protection. We can order it and other Mask-Off grades on request; contact us for pricing and lead time.
Not sure which Protex product you need?
Send us your spec callout, surface, and process and we'll confirm the right Protex grade, stocked widths, custom die-cut options, lead time, and pricing. Certificate of Conformance on every order.
Shop All Protex →This guide is provided for general informational purposes and is drawn from current Mask-Off Protex data sheets. Protex protective papers and films are not intended for fly-away applications; test before use on copper, brass, or anodized aluminum and before outdoor exposure. Spec references (Boeing BAC 5034 and BAC 5034-4, Airbus AIMS 12-6-001, NSNs) are provided for identification; confirm the current revision and applicability for your task. Typical performance figures are stated at time of manufacture and are not for use in writing specifications; confirm current values against each product's manufacturer data sheet. Prices shown are current starting prices and may change; confirm the live price on each product page. Protex is a registered trademark of Mask-Off Company; Boeing and BAC are trademarks of The Boeing Company; AIMS is a trademark of Airbus. Other marks belong to their respective owners.