Auto Glass Information
Though often overlooked, auto glass is an integral structural part of most automobiles and protects occupants from the elements and debris while offering the driver a view of the surroundings. Auto glass has evolved over the past century to become stronger, safer and more affordable.
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Early Auto Glass
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In some of the earliest mass-market cars, glass was a luxury item. Cars were sold standard without a windshield and often without doors or side windows as well. In the 1920s, cars became faster and more common. As new drivers complained about wind and debris, automakers began gradually offering windshields as standard equipment. New manufacturing methods for plate glass made simple, clear panes affordable and soon most cars were equipped with glass for driving even in bad weather.
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Safety Glass
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In the late 1920s, safety glass revolutionized earlier notions of auto glass. By layering thin panes of regular glass with a thin, adhesive plastic laminate layer, manufacturers produced glass that could not only withstand a stronger impact without breaking, but would not produce dangerous shards of glass when it did break. Safety glass posed a major safety advantage over plate glass, and automakers quickly adopted laminated windshields. In the 1960s, the U.S. government began requiring the use of laminated windshields on all new cars.
Other Types of Auto Glass
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Since the introduction of safety glass in the 1920s, auto glass has continued to improve. New chemical compounds for both the glass itself and the plastic laminate layer have resulted in auto glass that is more transparent, more resistant to shattering, resistant to dangerous glare and better at insulating the interior of the car from outside temperature and noise. Sheet glass, tempered glass and plate glass have all been used in various layered combinations as automotive engineers take advantage of newly developed materials of cost-saving manufacturing methods. Over the past several decades most states have also passed laws regulating window tinting to ensure that drivers who wish to tint their windows for privacy or to keep out excessive sunlight are still able to view their surroundings safely.
Aerodynamics
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Most early auto glass was produced in simple, flat panes that matched the square body panels of the cars of the era. Following World War II, the American automotive industry grew rapidly and introduced many new designs for cars. Among these were cars with more rounded, aerodynamic bodies. Curved glass became a common part of automotive design in the 1950s, both for aesthetics and to reduce the drag produced by a car in motion. Wind tunnel tests led designers to find the ideal shapes for curved windshields, side windows and rear windows.
Replacement and Repair
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When auto glass does break, it must be repaired or replaced soon. Cracked glass can quickly become weakened, and large cracks can interfere with a driver's visibility. While most broken glass must be replaced, inexpensive methods for filling small cracks or chips with a clear resin polymer are becoming more common. In some states with mandatory annual safety inspections, cars may not be certified as safe when broken glass is present. Because of the safety risk posed by cracked or broken glass, replacement services are covered by many standard car insurance policies.
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- Photo Credit "Driven, and driving bad weather" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: johnmarchan (John Marchan) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
