Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the most appropriate material to use 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 the best important utilization in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in a variety of vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that offer the highest growth potential for PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic that make it well suited for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To generate a comparison on the erogenous level, PMMA is half the extra weight plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even during true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate are now used almost exclusively for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, simple to process and perform in all weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is thus mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. On the other hand, thermoplastics that have low resistance to weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is known as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its extremely high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence and also this serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, that was primarily used for glazing previously. In contrast to traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal inside the automotive companies are to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and the need for eco-friendly initiatives in today’s general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect replacement for glass inside the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries 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 that are looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner within this movement given it helps make cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to assist you understand its properties and how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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