The Anatomy of Windshields
View PDF | Print View
by: ehrichweiss05
Total views: 5
Word Count: 524
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 Time: 12:47 AM
If you are getting windshield replacement then you might think this is a very simple and straightforward task just the same as getting replacement double glazing for your windows at home. What you might not realize however is that the design of auto glass is much more interesting than 'any old' window, and that if you are careful to look into it they are actually a great feat of intelligent engineering. Here we will look at how windshields and other auto glass are made and why they are so smart.
First of all, if you thought that your auto glass was made from one pane of glass then you would be forgiven for making this assumption. However this is actually inaccurate and already fails to grasp the complexity of the humble auto glass. You see a windshield is not actually one sheet of glass but two identical sheets of glass that are pressed firmly and invisibly together so that they look like they're just one sheet of glass. As well as the glass then, there is also another layer in the middle which consists of laminate plastic which is adhesive on both sides and this is actually what makes up your auto glass.
What is the reason for this you may wonder? Well the main reason is safety, and this is an improvement on previous windshield designs made by Henry Ford. This way, if a stone were to hit the auto glass from the front, then this would only slightly crack the screen on the outer layer, and it would leave the inner layer completely fine unless it was traveling very fast. This would then mean that the integrity of the vehicle remained – that it stayed airtight and water tight despite the chip or hole in the front. At the same time it would mean that the stone would be very unlikely to travel through both pieces of glass and to hit you in the head – in case you ever wondered why that didn't happen more often, no you know.
Another advantage of this design is for if both panes of glass do shatter. If this happens, then this will mean that you have large shards of sharp glass that otherwise could be highly dangerous. However because these are glued to that adhesive plastic, they won't break free and will instead 'hang' against the layer of plastic in the middle of the car and will be of no danger. Before these kinds of windshields were made, the large shards would have caused lots of accidents, or sugar glass would be used which would shatter into lots of pieces at the slightest damage.
The middle layer between the two panes of glass also has other applications and has been used in a variety of ways. This for instance is where the wire goes that allows some windshields to heat themselves to melt ice and snow, and it's where films can go in order to add tints to the glass and block out glare. All this is then held together with a highly powerful glue that bonds the glass to the frame at a molecular level.
About the Author
There is a lot more to auto glass than meets the eye. Follow the links for more information or to find windshield repair.
Rating: Not yet rated
