Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material for usage from the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important utilization in 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 among those fields that supply the greatest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic that make it perfect for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To produce a comparison on the very basic level, PMMA is half the load plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are used almost mainly for car window glazing where all 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.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to become fulfilled to fulfill the perfect state of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is therefore mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. On the other hand, thermoplastics which may have low capacity 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. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently considered 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 negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits little or no stress birefringence this also serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which was primarily useful for glazing during the past. In comparison with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal from the automotive companies are to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness and the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in the present general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect option to glass from 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 from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking for to adjust to recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner within this movement because it tends to make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to work with you to understand its properties and just how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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