Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the most suitable material to be used from the automotive industry. However, these days, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important used in the, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established to be used in many different vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one kind of those fields that supply the best growth prospect of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic which render it ideal for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To generate a comparison over a very basic level, PMMA is half the load plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even in the situation of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed thermoplastic resin are now used almost just for car window glazing where all of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which might be safe, simple to process and perform in all weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement of glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already has got the highest surface hardness coming from all thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to become fulfilled in order to meet the perfect condition of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is therefore mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. On the other hand, thermoplastics who have low capacity weathering have to have a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. With the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now known as the right 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 almost no stress birefringence and this 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, offers a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal from the automotive industry is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness as well as the requirement for eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic general scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect replacement for glass from the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries 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 car makers looking to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner in this movement as it can make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you in understanding its properties and how it most suitable to automotive glazing.
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