Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the most appropriate material for use from the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important use in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in a variety of vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields offering the highest growth potential for PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which render it ideal for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To produce a comparison over a simple level, PMMA is half the load and more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even during the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed sumitomo chemical asia are now used almost exclusively for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, very easy to process and perform in all weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another important desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to meet the best condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is thus mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. On the other hand, thermoplastics that have low potential to deal with weathering need a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently considered 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 hardly any stress birefringence and this operates as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, which has been primarily employed for glazing previously. Weighed against traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal from the automotive marketplace is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in today’s general scheme of things, PMMA operates 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 match the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and therefore are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner within this movement because it helps make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to work with you in understanding its properties and just how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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