Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material to use in 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 the best important use within the industry, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in many different vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that offer the highest growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which make it suitable for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To generate a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the extra weight and more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic sheet are used almost only for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, easy to process and perform in all weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another important requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions being fulfilled to fulfill the best state of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is thus mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In contrast, thermoplastics which have low effectiveness against weathering demand 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 eye of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become seen as the correct fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence and also this functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, that has been primarily used by glazing previously. In contrast to traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal in the automotive industry is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness along with the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA functions 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 auto makers that are looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner in this movement as it tends to make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to help you in understanding its properties and how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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