Modern automotive glass needs to withstand potholes, rocks, debris and collisions while keeping you and your passengers safe. There are two different types of safety glass used in cars. Laminated glass is used for windshields, and tempered glass is used for the rear and side windows. Here’s what you should know about how auto glass is made and how it differs from regular glass.
What’s laminated glass? Laminated glass is a type of safety glass used to make windshields. Because it holds together when it shatters, it allows passenger-side airbags to function correctly. When these are deployed, they bounce off of the windshield, which has to absorb up to 907 kilograms of force without breaking apart. Otherwise, the occupant may be ejected from the car. In addition, laminated glass is strong enough to prevent the car’s roof from caving in and crushing a car’s occupants during a rollover. How is laminated glass made? Laminated glass is made by pressing a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin between two glass panels. The assembly is then treated with heat and pressure to create a chemical and mechanical bond between the resin and the glass. The PVB layer allows the resulting glass to absorb impacts and deflects up to 95 per cent of UV rays. While it can still be broken, it’ll stay in one piece rather than explode into shards. What’s tempered glass? Tempered glass is used to make the rear and side windows of your car. It’s much stronger than regular glass thanks to its high tensility and compressive strength, which are the result of the manufacturing process. Without it, every pothole would cause your windows to shatter. How is tempered glass made? Tempered glass is made by quickly heating and cooling glass. The exterior cools much faster than the interior. This causes the outer layers to contract, creating compressive stresses, while the expanding inner layers create tensile stresses. The process makes the glass about 10 times stronger than regular glass, and the differences between compressive and tensile stresses allow the tempered glass to break into small, dull pieces should it be fractured. These are less likely to cause injuries than regular shards of glass. Auto glass repair in Winnipeg Strong as it is, automotive glass sometimes needs to be repaired or replaced. Even a small chip should be fixed as soon as possible to prevent it from expanding and putting you and your passengers at risk. For professional auto glass service in the Winnipeg area, you can count on Hometown Auto Glass. Call us today for help with any auto glass repair or replacement.