Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the most suitable material for use within 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 most important use within a, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in a number of vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that provide the highest growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which make it well suited for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To produce a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the load and more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even just in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic glass are now used almost only for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, very easy to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to be fulfilled to meet the optimal state of scratch resistance. The use of a coating thus remains mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics who have low capacity weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become seen as the right 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 anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits very little stress birefringence this also serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, which was primarily employed for glazing during the past. In comparison with traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal within the automotive industry is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness and also the need for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect option 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 car makers that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner on this movement as it makes cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to work with you in understanding its properties and exactly how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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