Improving the scratch resistance of PMMA with ROWALID SR Masterbatches

Acrylic glass is frequently used in outdoor applications such as windows and facades and to create advertising spaces and company signs. Indoors it is used for room dividers, acrylic glass furniture and various decorative products. But the demand for this valuable plastic from the automotive industry, aviation technology and jewelry production is also increasing – and for good reasons:

Compared to silicate glass, acrylic glass weighs half as much and is highly shatter resistant and stable. It is a transparent and UV-stable plastic, thermally insulating and frost and heat-resistant. When used outdoors PMMA can also withstand the effects of weathering for many years without yellowing or becoming brittle.

These sustainable properties will ensure that the plastic will be used in ever increasing applications and is regarded as a trend-setting material – but unfortunately it has one disadvantage compared to glass; its low scratch resistance. However, this scratch resistance can now be significantly increased by a polymer-specific masterbatch.

Various test methods have been developed to assess the scratch resistance of molded plastic parts depending on the application and type of surface. ROWA Masterbatch chose the cross-hatch test, in which a test probe is guided over the surface at defined grid spacing whilst a controlled force is applied. The width, depth and visibility of the scratches produced by the probe are then used to assess scratch resistance. A microscopic and visual evaluation showed that the previously high scratch resistance of PMMA (PMMA has the highest scratch resistance of all thermoplastics) can be significantly improved using ROWALID SR Masterbatches. Customers can use this new anti-scratch masterbatch as an additive to their standard products.