Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the 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 on the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important use within the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in many different vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that supply the best growth potential for PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic making it suitable for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To produce a comparison on the very basic level, PMMA is half the weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even in the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed pmma plastic are actually used almost only for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, easy to process and perform in most weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another significant requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled in order to meet the ideal state of scratch resistance. The use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics which may have low potential to deal with weathering demand a two-step coating system. This results in relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become seen as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as 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 serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, that has been primarily useful for glazing in the past. Weighed against traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal from the automotive industry is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness along with the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect substitute for glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking to adjust to 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 helps make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to help you out understand its properties and how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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