Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the best option material for usage within the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen on the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important use within the industry, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in a number of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that offer the best growth potential for PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic making it ideal for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To make a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the body weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even in the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed polymer resin are used almost only for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, very easy to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another important desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to become fulfilled to satisfy the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The use of a coating is thus mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. On the other hand, thermoplastics who have low resistance to weathering have to have 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 a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now viewed as the proper 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 anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence which works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily employed for glazing before. In comparison with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal within the automotive market is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and also the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the current scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect alternative to 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 car makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner on this movement as it can make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you to understand its properties and exactly how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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