5 Main reasons why Acrylic Plastic Is employed For Automotive Glazing

Polycarbonate had earned the tag since the the most appropriate material to be used inside the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen for the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important use in the market, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established to be used in many different vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that offer the very best growth risk of PMMA.
Related key options that come with acrylic plastic which render it suitable for the operation of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison on the standard level, PMMA is half the body weight and more transparent than glass, thereby providing superior visibility during true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed methyl methacrylate resin are actually used almost just for car window glazing where all the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, simple to process and perform in every weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another significant desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has the highest surface hardness coming from all thermoplastics even when uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions to get fulfilled to satisfy the ideal state of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is thus mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV and also weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. As opposed, thermoplastics which may have low effectiveness against weathering need a two-step coating system. This results 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 now known as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic with its quite 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 which functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which has been primarily useful for glazing during the past. In comparison with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal inside the automotive marketplace is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Given the awareness and the need for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect alternative to glass inside the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that meet the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner with this movement as it makes cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to work with you in understanding its properties and how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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