Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the the best option material for usage inside the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important use in the, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for usage in many different vehicle applications for example decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that provide the greatest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which render it ideal for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison on the erogenous level, PMMA is half the extra weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility during the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic have become used almost just for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, easy to process and perform in every weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions being fulfilled in order to meet the best state of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is therefore mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. As opposed, thermoplastics which have low capacity weathering demand a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently considered the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its very 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 which serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics for example polycarbonate, that was primarily useful for glazing in the past. Weighed against traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal inside the automotive market is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness as well as the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect substitute for glass inside the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and so are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner within this movement given it can make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to help you out in understanding its properties and how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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