Polycarbonate had earned the tag because most suitable material to be used from the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen on the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important use in a, namely, automotive glazing.


Long established to be used in a number of vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that offer the greatest growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic making it well suited for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To generate a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the extra weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility during the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed acrylic sheet are used almost mainly for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, simple to process and perform in all weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another important requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness coming from all thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you can find stringent conditions to be fulfilled in order to meet the perfect state of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Considering that PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is successful. In comparison, thermoplastics that have low capacity weathering need 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 persons vision of automobile manufacturers. Together with the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now viewed as the proper fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic in addition to its quite 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 including polycarbonate, which was primarily employed for glazing during the past. Compared with traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, offers a distinct potential for functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal from the automotive marketplace is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect option to glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, so too is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges from the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that are looking for to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. Oahu is the perfect partner on this movement given it makes cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to assist you in understanding its properties and just how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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