WHY IS LAMINATED GLASS USED ON MY WINDSHIELD?

Laminated glass is used on your windshield because it is built to protect you in case of impact. It is meant to hold together when shattered. If broken, it is held together by a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two or more layers of glass. This interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded when broken, and its high durability prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. When you are in the Scarborough auto glass area and a stone happens to fly into your windshield, you can count on the fact that the glass won’t completely shatter. It could however create a spider web shaped cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely break through the glass. Laminated glass is also used to increase the sound insulation rating of a window. A special “acoustic PVB” is used for the interlayer in cases where soundproofing is needed. This is particularly beneficial to drivers as it eliminates road noise in vehicles, allowing drivers to focus ahead. Laminated glass is manufactured by using two or more pieces of glass bonded between one or more pieces of adhesives such as PVB, using heat and pressure. Laminated glass repair is possible so if you happen to get a stone chip, you can visit Auto Glass Changers to have it assessed. The repair process involves drilling into the fractured glass to reach the PVB layer. A special resin is injected under pressure and then cured with ultraviolet light. This is the process that is widely used for automotive windshield repairs when the damage does not interfere with the driver’s line of sight. In most cases the damaged spot can be repaired to almost as good as new condition as there may be some distortion of the glass if you look closely. Laminated glass is only used on the front windshield of cars. Tempered glass is used for the back, and side windows. Laminated glass is very difficult to cut through. Tempered glass is great for automobiles because of the fact that when it is hit with an object, it doesn’t shatter into sharp pieces but more pebble-like pieces. These pebble like pieces don’t harm the human hand as regular class does. Laminated safety glass naturally blocks out about 97% of UV radiation, also making it a perfect choice for windshields. The next time you have a cracked, or chipped windshield, and you decide to head to an auto glass shop for repairs, you can thank the creator of laminated glass for the fact that the glass didn’t shatter all over you. A Frenchman named Edouard Benedictus invented laminated safety glass. He was a chemist among other things, and discovered laminated glass by accident one day in 1903. He was working in his lab when a flask fell to the floor. He noticed that it didn’t shatter completely and it mostly maintained its form. He examined it and realized that the glass had at one time contained plastic cellulose nitrate, which acted as a barrier to protect the glass. He then began experimenting and figured out how to build his own laminated glass. Laminated glass wasn’t used in vehicles until 1927.