Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material to use inside the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important used in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in many different vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that offer the highest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic making it perfect for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To create a comparison on the standard level, PMMA is half the load plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed pmma thermoplastic are now used almost mainly for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, an easy task to process and perform in every weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to get fulfilled in order to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating thus remains mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low potential to deal with weathering need a two-step coating system. This results in relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now seen as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its very 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 like polycarbonate, that has been primarily used for glazing previously. Weighed against traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal inside the automotive marketplace is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and also the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect alternative to glass inside the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that want to adjust to recent environmental requirements and are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner on this movement since it helps make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to work with you understand its properties and the way it ideal to automotive glazing.
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