Innovative PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds at K 2022: the right solution for every industry trend

• PLEXIGLAS® 8N plus for simple demolding and processing of complex injection-molded parts
• Neutral gray PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds with increased light transmittance in the red spectrum enable extraordinary taillights with a black panel effect
• PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT offers excellent optical quality and an elevated heat deflection temperature

PLEXIGLAS®, the brand polymethyl methacrylate from Röhm, always offers the right solutions for technological progress and new design trends in a multitude of industries. Between October 19 and 26, the Molding Compounds business unit will present innovative products for the automotive industry, the lighting industry and the household appliances sector at K 2022 in Düsseldorf, in hall 6, booth E29.

PLEXIGLAS® 8N plus: added benefit for injection molding

PLEXIGLAS® 8N plus simplifies the manufacturing of complex injection-molded parts. “This amorphous and thermoplastic PMMA molding compound is a further development of our versatile standard product, PLEXIGLAS® 8N,” says Sivakumara Krishnamoorthy, Global Strategy & Marketing Manager Automotive at Röhm. He continues: “The new material has the same proven properties, such as excellent light transmittance, very high UV and weather resistance and excellent flow properties during processing, with added application-specific benefits for molded parts with complex geometries.”

For example, PLEXIGLAS® 8N plus is more robust when it comes to demolding and welding, and is characterized by a higher chemical and impact resistance. In particular, users benefit from the optimized demoldability since fluctuations in quality are prevented and the yield is increased when intricate injection-molded parts or parts with sharp angles are easy to remove from the mold.

PLEXIGLAS® 8N plus is suitable for a wide range of applications in the automotive industry, in architecture and lighting as well as in household appliances. The new molding compound is available in its transparent form and in signal red or black. It meets the AMECA requirements for vehicle lighting.

Neutral gray PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds with better red transmittance

The black panel effect, which transforms a black surface into a true-color display, gives automotive designers exciting new design options for vehicle lighting. This is heralding a new trend in the premium sector: extraordinary taillights which only become visible when turned on. When the vehicle is turned off, they are not visible as separate components but are black and glossy panels that are seamlessly integrated into the vehicle body.

This effect can only be achieved with materials that have a neutral gray color. At K 2022, Röhm will present a newly developed neutral gray PLEXIGLAS® molding compound with an increased light transmittance in the red spectrum for the first time. “With this molding compound, automotive suppliers can achieve the signal red needed to meet requirements for vehicle lighting with fewer LEDs, or with LEDs that require a lower energy intensity and thus contribute to sustainability,” explains Arne Schmidt, Global Key Account Manager at Röhm.

The new product with increased red transmittance is available in five types with different transmittance levels. It expands the large selection of PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds in neutral gray colors.

PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT offers an elevated heat deflection temperature

Light is gaining importance as a design element in many areas. Röhm developed the PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT special molding compound to meet demand for lenses for high-performance LEDs and cater for the trend toward light guides. This product makes compromising between high optical quality and suitability for high continuous operating temperatures a thing of the past. PLEXIGLAS® Optical HT meets both requirements and offers extraordinarily good light transmittance and light-guiding properties at temperatures of up to 105 degrees Celsius. This makes it a durable material for contemporary product design in the automotive and lighting industry.