Polycarbonate had earned the tag because most suitable material for use in the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important used in a, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in many different vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that offer the best growth potential for PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic which make it ideal for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To make a comparison over a simple level, PMMA is half the body weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even during the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed thermoplastic resin have become used almost only for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, easy to process and perform in most weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another critical dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to satisfy the ideal state of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is therefore mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low potential to deal with weathering demand a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently known as the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as 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 almost no stress birefringence this also functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily useful for glazing previously. In comparison with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal in the automotive marketplace is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness as well as the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect substitute for glass in the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner in this movement given it can make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to help you out to understand its properties and just how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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