Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the the best option material for use inside the automotive industry. However, in recent times, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen towards the growing demands of the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important use within the, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established for use in a variety of vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is just one of those fields that supply the best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic making it perfect for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison on the very basic level, PMMA is half the body weight plus more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Owing to its molecular structure, thermoformed pmma thermoplastic are used almost exclusively for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which can be safe, an easy task to process and perform in most weathers are met.
At the top of Scratch Resistance
Another essential requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of most thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, there are stringent conditions to become fulfilled to satisfy the best condition of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating thus remains mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. On the other hand, thermoplastics which have low effectiveness against weathering demand a two-step coating system. This brings about relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the interest of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is now viewed as the right fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic in addition to its high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less stress birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence and also this operates as a major benefit over other thermoplastics like polycarbonate, which has been primarily employed for glazing in the past. Compared with traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal inside the automotive industry is to develop clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness as well as the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives with the current economic scheme of things, PMMA operates as a perfect replacement for glass inside the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that meet the latest challenges inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and therefore are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner with this movement as it makes cars lighter.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to help you out in understanding its properties and how it best suited to automotive glazing.
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