Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the best option material for use inside the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important use in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in a number of vehicle applications for example decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that offer the highest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic which make it well suited for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To make a comparison with a simple level, PMMA is half the body weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even in true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate are used almost only for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, an easy task to process and perform in every weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions to be fulfilled to meet the optimal state of scratch resistance. The use of a coating is thus mandatory. Due to the fact PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics which have low resistance to weathering require a two-step coating system. This brings about 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 has become considered the correct fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its quite high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits little or no stress birefringence this also works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics for example polycarbonate, that has been primarily used for glazing previously. Weighed against traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal inside the automotive marketplace is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness along with the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in the present general scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect alternative to glass inside 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 inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and they are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner with this movement since it can make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is pleased to help you to understand its properties and just how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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