Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the most appropriate material for use in 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 important utilization in a, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established for use in many different vehicle applications for example decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that supply the best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic which render it suitable for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To generate a comparison over a simple level, PMMA is half the load plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility even during the case of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate are now used almost mainly for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, simple to process and perform in all of the weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness coming from all thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions to be fulfilled to meet the optimal condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is thus mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV along with weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. As opposed, thermoplastics that 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 a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA has become seen as the right 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 works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics for example polycarbonate, that has been primarily useful for glazing before. In contrast to traditional materials for example polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct chance for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal in the automotive industry is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the present general scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect replacement for glass in 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 in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner in this movement since it makes cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to help you understand its properties and just how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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