Polycarbonate had earned the tag because the most appropriate material for usage inside the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate for important used in a, namely, automotive glazing.

Long established for usage in many different vehicle applications like decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields offering the highest growth potential for PMMA.
Related key features of acrylic plastic which render it perfect for the entire process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Transportable
To make a comparison with a erogenous level, PMMA is half the body weight and much more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility during true of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Due to its molecular structure, thermoformed Acrylic Plastic are actually used almost exclusively for car window glazing where all 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 significant requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics even though uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions to be fulfilled to meet the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The application of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV as well as weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. In contrast, thermoplastics which may have low resistance to weathering demand a two-step coating system. This ends in relatively expense 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 seen as the correct fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its extremely 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 like polycarbonate, that has been primarily used for glazing in the past. In contrast to traditional materials like polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct possibility of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal inside the automotive marketplace is to build up clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness along with the dependence on eco-friendly initiatives in the present scheme of things, PMMA serves as a perfect option to glass inside 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 inside the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and so are considering alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It is the perfect partner with this movement since it makes cars lighter.
As being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to assist you understand its properties and how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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