Why Is Glass Used for Car Windows?
Glass is an exceptionally versatile material that provides both visibility as well as safety and protection. Due to these desirable qualities, glass is the material of choice for the windows of almost every modern car.
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Visibility
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The first reason for the use of glass in car windows is of course visibility. Whether in the front, side or rear of the car, the visibility afforded by glass is highly useful. Glass allows occupants to see where they are going and lets natural sunlight, or artificial street lighting, enter the vehicle. This creates a more comfortable ride and provides a spacious feel for the occupants.
Safety
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The glass used in modern cars is usually one of two types. Single-layer toughened glass or laminated safety glass. Both provide a great deal of protection for passengers. Single layered toughened glass is pretreated to ensure that, in case of damage, it breaks into many small dull-edged pieces that won't cut people in or outside the vehicle. Laminated glass, on the other hand, features two panes of glass with a plastic layer in between. This allows the broken pieces to stay in place and also makes it harder for external objects to penetrate the cabin in case of an accident.
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Aesthetics
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Finally, glass looks beautiful. The interior of many modern automobiles are part fashion statement, and glass used on the windows allows the designers to integrate interior and exterior design into a unified, eye-pleasing whole.
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References
- Photo Credit blue car image by Furan from Fotolia.com
