Polymers have for very long been a fundamental element of our everyday lives a case in point that examples are available almost ubiquitously. We generally have an effect which leads us to believe that polymers are only plastics utilized for packaging, in household objects and for making fibres, however, this is the tip in the iceberg.

Polymers are widely-used in many applications you do not have thought much about. This site enlightens you regarding the story behind polymers and exactly how they have evolved from the time for everyone several functions across a number of industries.
Origin of polymer science
Humans have taken advantage of the flexibility of polymers for years and years available as oils, tars, resins and gums. However, it was not before the industrial revolution that this polymer industry developed. In fact, the birth of polymer science could possibly be traced time for the mid-nineteenth century. Within the 1830s, Charles Goodyear developed the vulcanization process that transformed the sticky latex of natural rubber right into a useful elastomer for tire use. In 1909, Leo Hendrik Baekeland developed a resin from two quite typical chemicals, phenol and formaldehyde. The reaction between these chemicals paved the way for the development of a resin, called Bakelite, named after him. It had been this resin that served as being a harbinger to many people in the common polymers that we use today. The phrase “polymer” comes from the Greek roots “poly” and “mer,” which assembled means “many parts.” Polymeric substances consist of numerous chemical units called monomers, that are gathered into large molecular chains comprising a huge number of atoms.
Classification of polymers
On the basis of their origin, acrylic sheet could be regarded as synthetic or natural polymers. Natural polymers are the types polymers that appear in nature which that are isolated from plant and animal resources. Starch, cellulose, proteins, natural rubber etc. are a couple of instances of natural polymers. Though these are processed to obtain the result, because the basic material develops from a natural source, these polymers are referred to as natural polymers. Natural rubber via tree latex is actually a polymer made from isoprene units having a portion of impurities inside it.
In this context, biopolymers will also be significant. There’s vast number of biopolymers including polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides. They’re naturally produced by microorganisms. The genetic manipulation of microorganisms makes means for enormous risk of the biotechnological manufacture of biopolymers with tailored properties ideal for high-value medical application including tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Synthetic polymers, for their name indicates, are synthesized inside the laboratory or factory via a number of chemical reactions from low molecular weight compounds. In the functional standpoint they may be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and synthetic fibres. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is one such thermoplastic produced by the polymerization in the monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). PMMA is frequently generally known as acrylic plastic and lends its properties to a number of consumer product applications. Being both a thermoplastic and transparent plastic, acrylic is used extensively inside the automotive industry in trunk release handles, master cylinder, and dashboard lighting. Consumer products that have a very constituent element of acrylic plastic include aquariums, motorcycle helmet lenses, paint, furniture, picture framing, and umbrella clamps, and the like.
Some of the other synthetic polymers that we use within our everyday life include Nylons, found in fabrics and textiles, Teflon, found in non-stick pans and Polyvinyl Chloride, found in pipes.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to help you out to understand its properties as being a synthetic polymer. To understand more, reach out to us here.
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Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material for usage in the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important use in a, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established for usage in a variety of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that supply the very best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which render it well suited for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison with a standard level, PMMA is half the extra weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even during the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate have become used almost only for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, simple to process and perform in every weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another essential desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions being fulfilled to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is thus mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low resistance to weathering demand a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is viewed as 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 stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits little or no stress birefringence and this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that has been primarily used for glazing before. In contrast to traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal in the automotive market is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness along with the need for eco-friendly initiatives in the current scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect option to glass in 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 in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking for to adjust to recent environmental requirements and are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner within this movement as it makes cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to assist you in understanding its properties and how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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How do a liquid containing just 5 carbon atoms, 2 oxygen atoms and 8 hydrogen atoms be used for durable purposes where thermal resistance, electrical resistance and mechanical strength is of prime importance? The answer depends on one word – “Polymerisation”.
Through this infographic, we trace the journey of MMA (Methyl Methacrylate), a liquid monomer which can be polymerised to lead to PMMA polymer (Polymethyl Methacrylate), and its various grades.

MMA may be polymerised to PMMA through solution polymerisation, emulsion polymerisation and bulk polymerisation techniques. These reactions occur in the use of a catalyst. The resulting polymethyl methacrylate may be modified to varied shapes, sizes and forms with regards to the additives.
Various grades of SUMIPEX®, the Polymethyl methacrylate resin produced by Sumitomo Chemical, which might be obtained on adding additives are:
• ‘High Impact Grade of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – Properties like high flow and good heat resistance choose this suitable 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 excellent chemical resistance would be the properties on 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 using this grade in automotive parts such as 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 levels of foreign contaminants are used for 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 recommended for intricate parts and thin-wall parts molding such as watch and clock cover, lighting cover, name plate, house ware, etc.
• ‘General Purpose Grades of SUMIPEX® PMMA’ – General Purpose Grades determine contrast 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 such as heat resistance and mechanical strength, this grade works in making great deal of products such as house ware, stationery, telephone buttons, piano keys, electrical accessories, ornaments, etc.
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