Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the most appropriate material to use within the automotive industry. However, in recent years, 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 important use in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in a number of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that offer the very best growth risk of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic that make it perfect for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To generate a comparison over a simple level, PMMA is half the extra weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even in true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are used almost mainly for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, an easy task to process and perform in all weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to become fulfilled to fulfill the best state of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. As opposed, thermoplastics that have low effectiveness against weathering demand a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now known as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as its quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits hardly any stress birefringence and this operates as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which was primarily used by glazing in the past. In comparison with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal within the automotive market is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness along with the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA operates as a perfect alternative to glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that meet the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking for to adjust to recent environmental requirements and they are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner in this movement because it can make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you out understand its properties and exactly how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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