Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material to be used within the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen on the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important used in a, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to be used in a number of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that provide the greatest growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which render it well suited for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To create a comparison on the erogenous level, PMMA is half the weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even during the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed pmma plastic are now used almost exclusively for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, very easy to process and perform in every weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another essential desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to meet the perfect state of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is thus mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. In comparison, thermoplastics which may have low resistance to weathering need a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now considered the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic in addition to its extremely high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence and also this serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which has been primarily used for glazing in the past. Weighed against traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal within the automotive market is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and also the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect replacement for glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that meet the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are contemplating 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 glad to help you in understanding its properties and exactly how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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