Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the 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 towards the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important utilization in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in a variety of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that provide the very best growth risk of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic making it well suited for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To create a comparison on a simple level, PMMA is half the extra weight plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even in true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are actually used almost just for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, simple to process and perform in most weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another important requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions to become fulfilled to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is thus mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. In contrast, thermoplastics that have low effectiveness against weathering need a two-step coating system. This results in relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is seen as the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits little or no stress birefringence and also this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that has been primarily useful for glazing in the past. In contrast to traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal from the automotive marketplace is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness and the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in the current scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect option to glass from 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 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 contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner within this movement as it tends to make cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to help you in understanding its properties and exactly how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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