Polycarbonate had earned the tag as 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 with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important used in the industry, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in several vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that supply the greatest growth potential for PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic making it suitable for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To create a comparison with a simple level, PMMA is half the extra weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility during the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic glass are now used almost exclusively for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, simple 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 contains the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to get fulfilled in order to meet the optimal state of scratch resistance. The application of a coating thus remains mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In contrast, thermoplastics which may have low resistance to weathering demand a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently viewed as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence and also this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily useful for glazing before. In contrast to traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with 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. Because of the awareness and also the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in the current scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect substitute for glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that match the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner within this movement given it tends to make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to assist you to understand its properties and the way it ideal to automotive glazing.
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