Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most appropriate material to be used within the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important used in a, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to be used in a variety of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that provide the very best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic that make it suitable for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To generate a comparison with a erogenous level, PMMA is half the load and more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even just in the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic sheet have become used almost only for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, very easy to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to fulfill the ideal state of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics which may have low capacity weathering demand a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Using 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 quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence and also this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily used by glazing before. In contrast to traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal within the automotive market is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness and also the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in today’s general scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect substitute for glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and they are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner with this movement given it helps make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to help you out in understanding its properties and the way it best suited to automotive glazing.
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