Search engine for touristic excursions to any place in the world Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the the most appropriate material for use from the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the most important use in the market, namely, automotive glazing.
Long established for use in a variety of vehicle applications such as 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 options that come with acrylic plastic which make it well suited for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To generate a comparison on a very basic level, PMMA is half the extra weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility during the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. As a result of its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic are now used almost only for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, simple to process and perform in all weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another important requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions to be fulfilled to fulfill the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating thus remains mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low resistance to weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This leads to relatively expense for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now known as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic in addition to 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 serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, which has been primarily useful for glazing during the past. Weighed against traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal from the automotive companies are to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness along with the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives in today’s general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect substitute for glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that match the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner on this movement because it helps make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to help you out understand its properties and how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
To learn more about Acrylic Plastic browse this useful web page: read