Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most suitable material for use within the automotive industry. However, in recent times, 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 the best important utilization in the market, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established for use in a number of vehicle applications including decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields offering the greatest growth risk of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which render it well suited for the whole process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To produce a comparison over a standard level, PMMA is half the body weight plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing really clear visibility even just in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed sumitomo chemical asia are now used almost mainly for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials which are safe, an easy task to process and perform in every weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another significant dependence on glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics even if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions being fulfilled to meet the optimal condition of scratch resistance. The usage of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating works well. In contrast, 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 40 to 50 percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques a person’s eye of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is currently seen as the right 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 negative feelings birefringence
PMMA exhibits very little stress birefringence and this operates as a major benefit over other thermoplastics including polycarbonate, that has been primarily used by glazing during the past. Compared with traditional materials including polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, supplies a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The brand new goal within the automotive industry is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness as well as the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA operates as a perfect alternative to glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the bounds of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that match the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking for to adjust to recent environmental requirements and they are contemplating alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner in this movement since it helps make cars lighter.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to work with you understand its properties and just how it suitable to automotive glazing.
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