Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the most suitable material for use inside the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important used in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in several vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields offering the very best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which render it suitable for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To generate a comparison with a simple level, PMMA is half the load and more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even just in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic sheet have become used almost mainly for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, an easy task to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another significant requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to get fulfilled in order to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating thus remains mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. As opposed, thermoplastics that have low resistance to weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently viewed as the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as its high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence and this functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily employed for glazing during the past. 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 modern goal inside the automotive marketplace is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness and also the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic general scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect substitute for glass inside 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 inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and they are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner with this movement given it helps make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to work with you in understanding its properties and the way it suitable to automotive glazing.
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