Polycarbonate had earned the tag because most suitable material for usage from the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important utilization in the, 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 kind of those fields that offer the best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic that make it suitable for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison on a standard level, PMMA is half the body weight and more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic glass have become used almost only for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, easy to process and perform in all weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to become fulfilled to meet the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating thus remains mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. As opposed, thermoplastics which may have low effectiveness against weathering need a two-step coating system. This results in relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is considered the correct 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 negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence which works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily employed for glazing previously. In comparison with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal from the automotive market is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness and also the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic general scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect replacement for 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 fulfill the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and they are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner with this movement as it helps make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to assist you in understanding its properties and just how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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