Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material to be used within the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important use in a, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to be used in several vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields offering the very best growth potential for PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic that make it well suited for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To create a comparison on the very basic level, PMMA is half the body weight and more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even during the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic are used almost only for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, an easy task to process and perform in all weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another important requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions being fulfilled to satisfy the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is thus mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low effectiveness against weathering need a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently viewed as the right 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 stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence which functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, which was primarily employed for glazing before. In comparison with traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal within the automotive companies are to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness and the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic general scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect alternative to glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that meet the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that want to adjust to recent environmental requirements and they are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner with this movement as it makes cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to help you in understanding its properties and just how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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