Innovative materials for pioneering automotive design – Röhm GmbH at PIAE 2021

• Röhm presents a broad portfolio of PMMA molding compounds for trends in automotive manufacturing
• New special molding compound PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT for the best optical quality at a high continuous service temperature

Röhm will present the diverse range of PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds for automotive manufacturing and a new special molding compound for applications at the vehicle front at the VDI Plastics in Automotive Engineering (PIAE) congress in Mannheim on September 8 and 9, 2021.

“We are especially looking forward to this PIAE since it is the first public event in one and a half years,” says Uwe Löffler, Head of Automotive in the Molding Compounds business unit at Röhm GmbH. “Partners and customers from the automotive sector can finally experience our products again up close and discover new things, as much has happened here.”

The requirements relating to the quality and functionality of plastics in automotive manufacturing are becoming ever stricter. Along with trends such as light as a design element in the exterior and interior, electromobility and autonomous driving are accelerating the need for multifunctional materials. Robust yet lightweight plastics with a high-quality surface appearance are in demand, as are thermoplastics with excellent optical properties that can withstand both high temperatures and weathering. The broad portfolio of PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds includes products with customized properties in order to meet these requirements.

PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT combines high heat deflection temperatures with optical quality

The new special molding compound PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT is Röhm’s reaction to industry trends such as high-power LEDs in vehicle lighting and the demand for long light guides for striking signature lights. This molding compound guarantees the best possible optical quality even at elevated continuous service temperatures. “PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT expands the application range of PLEXIGLAS® in automotive manufacturing. In the future, light will become even more important as a functional and design element for all automotive manufacturers. That’s why we are now offering a newly developed PMMA special molding compound, for example for headlamp lenses that are subject to high thermal stress,” explains Löffler. PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT withstands continuous operating temperatures of up to 105 degrees Celsius.

PLEXIGLAS® Resist AG 100 is robust in the vehicle front

The front design of vehicles is also changing. Since the motors of electric cars do not require a cooling air stream, radiator grills can make way for other design elements: Whether emblems, light guides or sensor covers – high-quality and robust plastics are needed for these applications, such as PLEXIGLAS® special molding compounds with improved impact resistance. “Applications like these at the vehicle front are exactly why we developed PLEXIGLAS® Resist AG 100. It has a higher impact resistance than comparable products on the market, is extraordinarily robust and weather-resistant and combines high heat deflection temperatures with good optical qualities,” explains Sivakumara Krishnamoorthy, Senior Product Manager Automotive at the Molding Compounds business unit. This material is a cost-efficient alternative for many components in automotive manufacturing which would otherwise require post-mold UV protective coating to achieve a comparable UV resistance.

“We look forward to discussing the future challenges in automotive manufacturing with automotive manufacturers and suppliers at the VDI congress and presenting suitable solutions with PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds,” says Löffler.