Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material for use within the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for the best important utilization in the market, namely, automotive glazing.


Long established for use in several vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that supply the greatest growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic making it well suited for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light weight
To make a comparison with a simple level, PMMA is half the load and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed polymer resin have become used almost exclusively for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, an easy task to process and perform in every weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another critical desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already contains the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions being fulfilled in order to meet the optimal state of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is thus mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. On the other hand, thermoplastics that have low potential to deal with weathering demand a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is known as the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its 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 this also serves as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, that has been primarily used by glazing in the past. Compared with traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal within the automotive marketplace is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness as well as the need for eco-friendly initiatives in the present general scheme of things, PMMA serves 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 that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and they are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner on this movement given it can make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to work with you understand its properties and exactly how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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