Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the most suitable material to use from the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important used in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use 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 greatest growth risk of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic that make it ideal for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To create a comparison over a simple level, PMMA is half the body weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are now used almost exclusively for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, very easy to process and perform in every weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to fulfill the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. On the other hand, thermoplastics which may have low resistance to weathering need a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become viewed as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its extremely high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits very little stress birefringence and this functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, that was primarily employed for glazing during the past. Compared with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal from the automotive marketplace is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness as well as the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect substitute for glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also 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 looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner with this movement since it makes cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you out understand its properties and the way it suitable to automotive glazing.
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