Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the most suitable material for usage within the automotive industry. However, in recent times, 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 important use in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in many different vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that provide the highest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic which make it suitable for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To generate a comparison on a erogenous level, PMMA is half the weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic sheet are used almost mainly for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, easy to process and perform in most weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical 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 will find stringent conditions to become fulfilled in order to meet the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating thus remains mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In contrast, thermoplastics that have low effectiveness against weathering need a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expense 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 is currently seen as the correct 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 negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence which functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, that has been primarily employed for glazing during the past. Compared with traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The newest goal within the automotive companies are to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Because of the awareness along with the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect substitute for glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and therefore are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner within this movement since it tends to make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to assist you in understanding its properties and how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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