How is Windshield Glass Manufactured and Designed for Safety?

The windshield has many roles to play. While you may think that the car or SUV window glass is provided just to keep out dust and debris, the windshield does a lot more than this basic function. In fact, the windshield glass is manufactured and designed to safeguard passengers in particular.

You must have heard that delaying the repair of a broken automotive glass can prove to be dangerous. The moment you spot any kind of damage in the windshield, you should get in touch with a professional or an auto glass service that has a reputation for doing quality auto glass installation and auto window replacement. Even if it looks like a small blemish, you should never ignore it. Since the windshield is specially designed for safety, you should get the chip or crack in it fixed as quickly as possible so that you can drive on the road with proper safety. Modern cars and SUVs are designed to keep the passengers as safe as possible. The windshield is a crucial component that contributes to your safety on the road while driving.

But do you know how a windshield glass is different from traditional glass? In this article, we will discuss how windshield glasses are manufactured and designed to keep drivers and passengers safe.

When you take your car or SUV for an automotive glass repair or auto windshield replacement, you may think that it is the same glass as the one fitted in your home’s windows. But windshield glasses are entirely different from the regular glass in design, features and functions.

The materials used to make a windshield glass are completely different. Regular or plain glasses are specially designed for safety. But all windshields are manufactured and designed to perform the most important role of safeguarding the driver and the passengers of a car during a crash, collision or rollover. As a result of the advanced manufacturing process, the windscreen glass is not just strong and durable but it is also designed to prevent glass injuries.

Some of the key ingredients used in manufacturing a car windshield glass include cullet, limestone, dolomite, soda ash etc. A combination of these lends high durability as well as reduces the melting point of the glass.

The front windshield glass of a car or SUV is made up of two layers of glasses and a vinyl layer in between. The two layers of the glasses fuse with each other in a manner that makes the windshield highly durable. The fusion is done using a process of lamination. This is how automotive glasses become a crucial safety component in the overall safety system of the vehicle.

If you have a question in this regard, you can always get in touch with one of our auto glass specialists at SIR Auto Glass that operates in the Portland Metro Area and offers auto glass repair and replacement.

Since the glass used in windshields is not plain glass, it also shatters in a different manner. When a regular glass breaks, you will find many sharp pieces that can cause fatal injuries. With a windshield, the case is different when it breaks. If a windshield glass breaks, it will either shatter into tiny blunt pieces that are not dangerous or it will stay together in one piece even after breaking. This is exactly how windshield glass is manufactured and designed.

Why is the windshield glass manufactured in this way? During a car accident, the auto glass can break and injure the driver and the passengers. If the glass pieces are large and sharp, it can cause severe injuries and even lead to death. But when a windshield breaks, the glass shards are less jagged. Most of all, the chances of the windshield glass breaking completely are very less. If you happen to be involved in a car accident on the road, the windshield gives you protection against fatal glass-related injuries and saves your life. The windshield is made so strong that it provides strength to the vehicle frame ensuring structural integrity.

Laminated glass used in the front windshield is not just highly durable, but it has a high amount of resistance to impact. The unique design of the glass ensures that it does not shatter into pieces even with a lot of force.

Auto glasses are here for as long as there are cars. But modern automotive glasses are a great deal more advanced than previous glasses. Whether you talk about comfort or safety, the car window glasses are made quite well. Modern glass technology has enabled windshield quality to increase over time, so as to provide the highest level of road safety to drivers and passengers.

Given below are some of the main types of automotive glasses fitted and installed in cars, SUVs, trucks and minivans.

Laminated:

One of the most crucial and popular types of auto glasses installed in a car or SUV is laminated glass. The glass consists of three layers in total. Two layers of glasses are joined together with a PVB layer in between. An advanced procedure is followed to manufacture this glass.

It is the PVB layer in the middle that prevents the glass from breaking or shattering during a road accident or collision. One of the most important features of laminated glass is that it functions as a barrier between the occupants of the vehicle and the external elements. Laminated glass is mainly used in the front windshield. But you should expect to see the use of this type of glasses in other windows of a car or SUV due to its excellent safety features.

According to the law, all car manufacturers must install laminated glass in the front windshield. If you spot any kind of damage to this window glass, you should get a glass crack repair done as fast as possible.

Tempered:

Also referred to as toughened glass, tempered glass is another main type of automotive glass used in a car or SUV. This type of glass is entirely different from the standard glass you see in a house’s windows. In fact, tempered glass is several times much stronger than regular or plain glass.

Tempered glass is manufactured and designed using a technology called quenching. As a result of this modern procedure, the glass gets a great deal of strength and durability. In addition to being very strong, the glass is known for its unique feature to break into tiny blunt pieces on high impact. You will see this type of glass installed in the rear and side windows of a car. Many sunroofs are also fitted with tempered glass. Unlike laminated glass, it is a single layer glass.

Now that you know about laminated and tempered glass, you may have this question in mind: Which one is better. Each of these automotive glasses comes with its own features, functions, pros and cons.

In fact, there is no comparison between the two, because each of these products is manufactured to serve a specific purpose or perform a specific function. One major difference between the two in terms of repair is one of them is easy to repair when damaged while the other is not. For instance, a technician can repair a chip or crack on a laminated glass (installed in the front windshield). But if a tempered glass (installed in the back windshield) is hard to repair. If this type of auto windshield glass is damaged, you will need to go for car window replacement.

The two types of glasses are also different in terms of cost. Installing a brand new laminated glass is more expensive than replacing a tempered glass. Laminated glass keeps harmful UV rays out as well. If you are in need of a glass crack repair or car glass replacement, head over to SIR Auto Glass.

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What Makes Auto Glass Different from Normal Glass?

The manufacturing process through which automobile windshield glass is designed is an advanced and well-defined procedure. 

At first, all the essential raw materials are measured and mixed together in a way that the ingredients do not separate. The float glass process is then carried out to melt all the raw materials in a proper manner. On the one hand, the molten glass is flattened for a proper shape. On the other hand, the glass is cleared from all kinds of impurities. When the glass is hard enough, it is passed to a furnace. The glass is then cooled down slowly. Once the glass has cooled down, it is hard enough for the next steps to begin, which include cutting and tempering.

Next, the glass is cut in required shapes. This is done using an automatic process. There are cameras and optoelectronic systems to measure the glass pieces with a high degree of precision. After the glass has been given the required shape, it is hardened through a process termed as tempering.

Once the glass has been tempered, the next step of lamination starts. This is the step where laminated glass is created. Two sheets of glass are taken and fused together with a PVB layer in the middle. The plastic layer functions as the bonding material to join the two layers of glass. Both heat and pressure are used to complete the lamination process in an effective manner. The plastic interlayer between the glass sheets is used to create a filter for UV rays. Laminated glass thus produced can again go through cutting and drilling processes as per need. After lamination, the creation of the windshield glass is completed. The glass is ready for installation in cars, SUVs, trucks and other vehicles. There are strict quality control standards to be followed in order to create top quality windshield glasses.

Through the years, automotive windshield glass has traveled a long journey. Car and SUV manufacturers continue to add more advanced features to car window glass for greater safety and comfort.

Now that you have understood how crucial the function of windshield glass is, you should give it the best care and maintenance. If you notice it has sustained a chip or crack, you should immediately take the vehicle to a windshield repair service or avail yourself of mobile glass service.

If the damage is small or moderate, the technician will likely repair it. Severe damages will require a complete replacement.

The process for replacing a broken windshield is a detailed one. This means every step of the procedure must be paid a great deal of attention. When it comes to windshield glass replacement, you can get either an OEM quality glass or aftermarket auto glass. Both these types of glasses are known for excellent quality and function. If you are in search of auto glass services or mobile glass service in the Portland Metro area, you should head over to SIR Auto Glass. Our highly trained glass technicians will first examine the type and extent of damage and then suggest the most ideal solution to restore the structural integrity of the car.

The faster you get your damaged windshield fixed, the better. You should never delay the repair or replacement, as it will keep your safety on the road compromised and can lead to dangerous consequences. 

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What Happens If You Don’t Fix a Cracked Windshield?

The windshield glass is designed to safeguard the occupants of a car or SUV in the event of a road accident or collision. If you want maximum protection during a crash or rollover and be able to see with full visibility, you should keep the glass in an excellent condition at all times. Most of all, you should always rely only on expert technicians for a glass repair or installation job. If you still have a question or want to schedule an inspection of your broken front windshield glass, back windshield or other auto glasses, reach out to SIR Auto Glass.

Our windshield repair, replacement and mobile glass services are available in the Portland Metro area including Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Gresham, Oregon City, Wilsonville and Tualatin. Give our office a phone call or write to us at the email given on our website.