Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the most appropriate material to be used inside the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important utilization in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to be used in a number of vehicle applications for example decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that provide the highest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic which make it perfect for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To produce a comparison on a standard level, PMMA is half the body weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even during true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic sheet are now used almost just for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, an easy task to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions being fulfilled to satisfy the perfect state of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating thus remains mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. On the other hand, thermoplastics which have low resistance to weathering need a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively expense 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 has become viewed as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as its quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits very little stress birefringence this also serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics for example polycarbonate, which was primarily useful for glazing during the past. Weighed against traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal inside the automotive industry is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness along with the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect option to 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 match the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner on this movement because it can make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you out in understanding its properties and exactly how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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