Windshields are made of laminated safety glass, a type of glass that is composed of a piece of plastic sandwiched between two layers of glass. All three layers are sealed together and air pockets removed using rollers or vacuum systems. There are two main types of glass used when building cars: automatic glass and tempered glass. The glass generally used for the rear window and the front and rear door windows are made of tempered glass, while the windshield is made of laminated glass.
Safety glass is used in all automotive glass to reduce the likelihood of injury, if broken. Laminated glass is made up of two pieces of glass, with a thin layer of vinyl between them. The three pieces are laminated together by applying heat and pressure in a special oven called an autoclave. When a small object hits a piece of safety glass, usually only the outer layer of the windshield that is hit breaks.
Tempered glass for cars is manufactured as a single layer product, treated by a rapid heating and cooling process. For windshield replacement, you have the option of selecting a replacement made by a company that makes OEM windshields, or glass made by non-OEM manufacturers, known as aftermarket glass. The reason for the popularity of glass in automotive parts is the strength, durability, flexibility and versatility they have to offer. Allstar Glass Corporation provides automotive glass services, including windshield repair, replacement or tinting, at prices you can afford. This glass meets original safety and quality specifications such as factory glass. Although laminated glass is widely used in the automotive industry, it can be used for any application where there is a potential for impact by a person.
The difference between laminated and tempered glass is that the latter is more susceptible to breakage due to its manufacturing process. Tempered glass is strong and hard compared to untreated glass with the same thickness. In addition, laminated glass can be repaired, but tempered glass breaks completely in an accident and requires a complete replacement. The most important type of automotive glass is the windshield, which is made of laminated safety glass. Different types of glass are used throughout the vehicle because each type has a different purpose.
Laminated safety glass offers superior protection against impacts and dust particles that could distort the driver's line of sight. Laminated safety glass can be traced back to the 1920s when two sheets of glass were placed together using a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) sheet between them.
