Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material to use in the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important use in a, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in several vehicle applications for example decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that offer the very best growth potential for PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic that make it suitable for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To create a comparison on the very basic level, PMMA is half the load plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate have become used almost just for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, an easy task to process and perform in every weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled in order to meet the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is therefore mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. As opposed, thermoplastics which may have low potential to deal with weathering require a two-step coating system. This results in relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now considered the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its very high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence and also this operates as a major benefit over other thermoplastics for example polycarbonate, which was primarily used by glazing previously. Compared with traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal in the automotive market is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness along with the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA operates as a perfect option to glass in the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and so are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner on this movement since it helps make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to work with you in understanding its properties and how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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