When it comes to automotive glass, there are two main types used in vehicles that circulate today: laminated glass and tempered glass. All windshields are made of laminated glass and provide protection, but there are three different grades of windshield glass. The front windshield is usually made of laminated glass, while the rear window and car glass are tempered. Safety glass is used in all automotive glass, and the only difference between a dealer's glass and aftermarket automotive glass is that the former is marketed and sold under the brand name of the windshield installer or car repair company.
Laminated glass is created by bonding several layers of glass together under pressure and heat, with a resin called polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Tempered glass is manufactured by rapidly heating glass to more than 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and then rapidly cooling it to room temperature. Although tempered glass has been the standard for the past few decades, more and more companies are starting to use laminated glass for side and rear windows. Laminated glass can be used for any application where there is a potential for impact by a person.
The car's front glass or windshield is a crucial safety component, which is designed to support the structural integrity of the vehicle. The second type of aftermarket automotive glass comes from the OEM, but was created on a different production line. This means that the car glass is made specifically for the make and model of your vehicle and is guaranteed to fit. Although aftermarket glass is not made by your car's original manufacturer, it is generally manufactured to a great standard.
The only solution to repairing a broken tempered glass is to replace it with a new one, since it cannot be repaired. Windshield installation professionals say that when it comes to replacing automotive glass, the replacement should be made by the same manufacturer as the original glass.
