Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material for usage from the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important use within the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in several vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields offering the best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic making it ideal for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To produce a comparison with a erogenous level, PMMA is half the weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even during the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are used almost exclusively for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, easy to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another important dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions being fulfilled to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating thus remains mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In comparison, thermoplastics who have low resistance to weathering require a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is considered the correct fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as its extremely high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence which works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, that was primarily employed for glazing in the past. Weighed against traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal from the automotive marketplace is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness and the need for eco-friendly initiatives in the current scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect replacement for glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that want to adjust to recent environmental requirements and therefore are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner with this movement since it can make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you to understand its properties and just how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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