Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the best option material for usage inside the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important used in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in several vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that provide the very best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic that make it well suited for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To create a comparison with a simple level, PMMA is half the weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed pmma plastic are now used almost exclusively for car window glazing where every one 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 significant requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to meet the optimal condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low effectiveness against weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This results in relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now considered the proper 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 almost no stress birefringence and this serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, which was primarily used by glazing previously. Compared with traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal inside the automotive market is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness as well as the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect replacement 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 fulfill the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner on this movement because it makes cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to assist you in understanding its properties and exactly how it suitable to automotive glazing.
For more info about pmma plastic check out this useful website: click