Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material for usage from the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important use within the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in a number of vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that offer the best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic that make it well suited for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To produce a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the extra weight and more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility during the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed polymer resin are used almost only for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, an easy task to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another significant requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions being fulfilled to satisfy the perfect state of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating thus remains mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. In comparison, thermoplastics who have low resistance to weathering demand a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become considered the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along 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 very little stress birefringence and this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, which was primarily used by glazing previously. Weighed against traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal from the automotive industry is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness and the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in today’s scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect replacement for glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking for to adjust to recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner in this movement given it makes cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you to understand its properties and how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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