Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the the best option material to use within the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important utilization in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established to use in a variety of vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that offer the best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic making it ideal for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To create a comparison over a very basic level, PMMA is half the body weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even in the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic are actually used almost just for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, simple to process and perform in most weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another important requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness coming from all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions being fulfilled to fulfill the optimal condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating thus remains mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. On the other hand, thermoplastics which have low effectiveness against weathering need a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently seen as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its extremely 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 this operates as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, that has been primarily used for glazing during the past. In contrast to traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal within the automotive companies are to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness and also the need for eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA operates as a perfect substitute for glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner with this movement because it tends to make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you out to understand its properties and just how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
Check out about Acrylic Plastic explore this web portal: click for info