Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the most appropriate material for usage in the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important used in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in several vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that supply the very best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic that make it perfect for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison over a very basic level, PMMA is half the weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even in the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic are now used almost mainly for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, easy to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions to become fulfilled to satisfy the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating thus remains mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In comparison, thermoplastics which may have low resistance to weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expensive 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 all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is viewed as the right 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 negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence which works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, that has been primarily useful for glazing before. Weighed against traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal in the automotive marketplace is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness as well as the need for eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect replacement for glass in the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner on this movement since it tends to make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to work with you in understanding its properties and how it suitable to automotive glazing.
For additional information about Acrylic Plastic visit this webpage: this