Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the best option material for use inside the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen on the growing demands with the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important utilization in the market, 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 among those fields that offer the best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which render it well suited for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To produce a comparison with a simple level, PMMA is half the load and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even during true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are actually used almost exclusively for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, very easy to process and perform in most weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another essential dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to meet the optimal state of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is thus mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low resistance to weathering require a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently viewed as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic as well as its high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits very little stress birefringence and also this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics for example polycarbonate, that has been primarily employed for glazing in the past. Compared with traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal inside the automotive market is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness as well as the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in today’s scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect replacement for 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 fulfill the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner with this movement given it helps make cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to work with you in understanding its properties and exactly how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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