Polycarbonate had earned the tag because most suitable material to be used in the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important use within the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to be used in a number of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that supply the best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which render it ideal for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To generate a comparison on a very basic level, PMMA is half the weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic are now used almost exclusively 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.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions being fulfilled to satisfy the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. In contrast, thermoplastics that have low potential to deal with weathering require a two-step coating system. This brings about 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. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become viewed as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic in addition to its high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits little or no stress birefringence which functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which was primarily used for glazing previously. Compared with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal in the automotive market is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness as well as the need for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect substitute for glass in 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 in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner in this movement given it can make cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to assist you understand its properties and exactly how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
More information about Acrylic Plastic take a look at this web page: check here