Polymers have for long been a fundamental portion of our everyday lives a case in point that examples is found almost ubiquitously. We have an impact leading us to think that polymers are simply plastics used for packaging, in household objects and for making fibres, however, this is simply the tip in the iceberg.

Polymers are used in all sorts of applications you might not have thought much about. This web site enlightens you regarding the story behind polymers and how it’s evolved from the time to provide several functions across a host of industries.
Origin of polymer science
Humans have taken good thing about the versatility of polymers for hundreds of years as oils, tars, resins and gums. However, it wasn’t before the industrial revolution that the polymer industry began to develop. In reality, the birth of polymer science could possibly be traced to the mid-nineteenth century. In the 1830s, Charles Goodyear developed the vulcanization method that transformed the sticky latex of natural rubber right into a useful elastomer for tire use. In 1909, Leo Hendrik Baekeland created a resin from two common chemicals, phenol and formaldehyde. The reaction between those two chemicals paved the way to build up a resin, called Bakelite, named after him. It turned out this resin that served being a harbinger to a lot of in the common polymers we use today. The word “polymer” hails from the Greek roots “poly” and “mer,” which build means “many parts.” Polymeric substances are comprised of several chemical units called monomers, which can be joined together into large molecular chains composed of a large number of atoms.
Classification of polymers
Based on their origin, pmma thermoplastic might be viewed as synthetic or natural polymers. Natural polymers are the type polymers that appear in nature understanding that which can be isolated from plant and animal resources. Starch, cellulose, proteins, natural rubber etc. are several types of natural polymers. Though these are processed to have the end product, since the basic material comes from a natural source, these polymers are called as natural polymers. Natural rubber originating from tree latex is essentially a polymer made from isoprene units with a small percentage of impurities inside.
With this context, biopolymers will also be significant. There is certainly vast number of biopolymers for example polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides. These are naturally made by microorganisms. The genetic manipulation of microorganisms makes way for enormous prospect of the biotechnological production of biopolymers with tailored properties suited to high-value medical application for example tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Synthetic polymers, as his or her name indicates, are synthesized inside the laboratory or factory via a number of chemical reactions from low molecular weight compounds. From your functional point of view they could be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and synthetic fibres. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is one such thermoplastic made by the polymerization in the monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). PMMA is often generally known as acrylic plastic and lends its properties to a variety of consumer product applications. Being both a thermoplastic and transparent plastic, acrylic is employed extensively inside the automotive industry in trunk release handles, master cylinder, and dashboard lighting. Consumer products which have a very constituent portion of acrylic plastic include aquariums, motorcycle helmet lenses, paint, furniture, picture framing, and umbrella clamps, among others.
Some of the other synthetic polymers we use in our everyday life include Nylons, used in fabrics and textiles, Teflon, used in non-stick pans and Polyvinyl Chloride, used in pipes.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to work with you in understanding its properties being a synthetic polymer. To find out more, get in touch with us here.
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Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the best option material for use in the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important use within the, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established for use in several vehicle applications for example decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that offer the greatest growth risk of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic which render it suitable for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To make a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the load plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility during true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic glass are now used almost just for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, an easy task to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness coming from all thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions to be fulfilled to meet the perfect state of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is thus mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. On the other hand, thermoplastics which have low capacity weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is viewed as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as its 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 for example polycarbonate, that was primarily used for glazing previously. Weighed against traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal in the automotive industry is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and also the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect substitute for 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 meet the latest challenges in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking for to adjust to recent environmental requirements and they are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner in this movement given it tends to make cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to work with you to understand its properties and the way it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the most suitable material to use inside the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important used in the, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established to use in a number of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that provide the highest growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which render it well suited for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To produce a comparison on the standard level, PMMA is half the body weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even just in true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic have become used almost just for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, easy to process and perform in most weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another significant requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions being fulfilled in order to meet the optimal condition of scratch resistance. The use of a coating is thus mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. In comparison, thermoplastics who have low potential to deal with weathering require a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively expense 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. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become known as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its 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 serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which was primarily used by glazing during the past. Compared with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal inside the automotive industry is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness as well as the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect alternative to glass inside the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that match the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner on this movement because it helps make cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you understand its properties and how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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Just how can a liquid containing just 5 carbon atoms, 2 oxygen atoms and 8 hydrogen atoms provide for high quality purposes where thermal resistance, electrical resistance and mechanical strength is of prime importance? The result depends on a word – “Polymerisation”.
Through this infographic, we trace your way of MMA (Methyl Methacrylate), a liquid monomer which can be polymerised to bring about PMMA polymer (Polymethyl Methacrylate), and its particular various grades.

MMA can be polymerised to PMMA through solution polymerisation, emulsion polymerisation and bulk polymerisation techniques. Each one of these reactions happen in the presence of a catalyst. The resulting acrylic glass can be modified to numerous shapes, sizes and forms with regards to the additives.
The assorted grades of SUMIPEX®, the Polymethyl methacrylate resin made by Sumitomo Chemical, which are obtained on adding additives are:
• ‘High Impact Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Properties like high flow and good heat resistance make this well suited for manufacturing extruded sheets/ pipes/ rods, construction materials, automotive parts and industrial applications
• ‘Extrusion Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Good extrusion molding characteristics, high surface hardness, superb weatherability and ideal chemical resistance are the properties of this grade that favour its use in extruded sheets/ pipes/ rods.
• ‘Heat Resistant Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Excellent heat resistance, excellent surface hardness and mechanical strength enables use of this grade in automotive parts like tail lamp, instrument cluster, optical Lens, general lamps, etc.
• ‘Optical Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – With excellent heat resistance and flow properties, the optical grades with extremely low quantities of foreign contaminants bring light Guide panels and optical lenses.
• ‘High Flow Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’- With characteristics like high-flow during injection molding and good moldability, this grade is mandatory for intricate parts and thin-wall parts molding like watch and clock cover, lighting cover, name plate, house ware, etc.
• ‘General Purpose Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – General Purpose Grades determine distinction between normal and optical grades/special grades. General Purpose Grades like MH, LG, LG2, etc. come under “Extrusion Grade”, “Heat Resistance Grade” and “High Flow Grade”. With balanced properties like heat resistance and mechanical strength, this grade works to make great deal of products like house ware, stationery, telephone buttons, piano keys, electrical accessories, ornaments, etc.
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