---
title: 12% Lighter Sunroof Frames & 24% Cost Cut with Thermylene™ PP-GF45%
description: Thermylene™ PP-GF45% cuts sunroof frame weight by 12% and cost by 24%, while offering UV durability, low VOCs, and zero drying. No mold changes needed.
---

[Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Blog ](https://blog.akplastics.com)

# [12% Lighter Sunroof Frames & 24% Cost Cut with Thermylene™ PP-GF45%](https://blog.akplastics.com/12-lighter-sunroof-frames-24-cost-cut-with-thermylene-pp-gf45)

 Written by [Tom Hanvey](https://blog.akplastics.com/author/tom-hanvey) | Nov 19, 2025 2:45:00 PM

#### **Introduction**

Sunroof frames must combine stiffness, UV durability and low VOC emissions in one molded assembly. Traditional PET-GF/MF-35 grades deliver rigidity but add weight, require lengthy drying and risk surface degradation. Thermylene™ PP-GF45% offers a glass-filled polypropylene solution that cuts frame mass by 12%, reduces component cost by 24% and simplifies molding—all while delivering UV stability and low VOC output ​.

#### **Weight & Cost Savings**

By converting sunroof front- and rear-beam frames from PET-GF/MF-35 to Thermylene PP-GF45%, teams achieve a **12% mass reduction per frame** and **24% lower component cost** versus LGF PP, ASA or PBT alternatives ​. Those savings flow directly into material-spend reductions and lighter assemblies without any tooling changes.

#### **Capex Reduction & Ease of Processing**

Thermylene PP-GF45% eliminates the need for extensive drying equipment and secondary coatings, delivering a **47% capex reduction** on processing infrastructure ​. Its no-dry requirement and engineered flowability let molders fill complex beam geometries in a single shot, reducing cycle variability, energy use and maintenance downtime.

#### **UV Durability & Low VOCs**

Thermylene PP-GF45% grades are formulated for excellent UV performance and emit low VOCs during molding—addressing both exterior-component longevity and environmental-regulation targets without extra post-treatments ​.

#### **Sustainability & Circularity**

Switching to Thermylene PP-GF45% cuts annual resin consumption and eliminates energy-intensive drying steps, reducing embodied CO₂ and plant energy use. Its halogen-free polypropylene base supports straightforward end-of-life recycling, helping sustainability teams hit lightweighting and circularity KPIs in one material swap.

#### **Next Steps **

Stop over-engineering your sunroof frames with heavy, high-VOC grades. **Contact our technical-sales team now** to:

- Request Thermylene™ PP-GF45% samples for your existing sunroof molds
- Review simplified processing guidelines—no drying or coatings needed
- Plan a trial run to validate 12% weight and 24% cost savings

Ready to improve the performance of your parts in automotive applications?   [**Contact us today** to learn more about how our engineered plastics can power your next project](https://blog.akplastics.com/contact-materials-expert).

[View full post](https://blog.akplastics.com/12-lighter-sunroof-frames-24-cost-cut-with-thermylene-pp-gf45)

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