Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the most suitable material to be used in the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important used in the industry, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to be used in many different vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that supply the very best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which make it well suited for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To produce a comparison with a erogenous level, PMMA is half the weight plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin have become used almost exclusively for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, simple to process and perform in all weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another critical requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to become fulfilled to fulfill the optimal state of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. As opposed, thermoplastics who have low potential to deal with weathering require a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively high costs 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 has become known as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with 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 this also works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, that was primarily used by glazing in the past. In contrast to traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal in the automotive companies are to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness along with the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in today’s scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect option to glass in the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, so too 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 that are looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and they are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner on this movement given it tends to make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to help you understand its properties and exactly how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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