Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the the best option material to be used in the automotive industry. However, recently, 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 the most important use in the market, 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 offering the very best growth risk of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic making it suitable for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To generate a comparison on a standard level, PMMA is half the weight plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even in the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate are used almost mainly for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, simple to process and perform in all weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another significant dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions to be fulfilled to satisfy the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. On the other hand, thermoplastics which may have low resistance to weathering have to have 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. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now known as the correct fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic in addition to its quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence and also this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which was primarily useful for glazing in the past. Weighed against traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal in the automotive industry is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness as well as the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in today’s scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect option to glass in the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and they are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner within this movement given it helps make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to work with you understand its properties and exactly how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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