Everyone knows glass comes in different forms and types and even colors, but what makes windshield glass different from other types of glass? Sometimes when the bill for a new windshield comes it may make you wonder what special properties windshield glass that has makes it the only type of glass for your car. Here are a few that makes windshield glass so special.
- Lamination: Windshield glass is made by lamination, which means 2 sheets of glass are pressed onto a thin sheet of vinyl. The glass and vinyl sandwich are pushed together using high pressure, making a tough and solid windshield.
- Deflection: Have you ever noticed those little chips and stars that form in windshields? It would make sense that a piece of glass when cracked should crack all the way, but not with windshields. This lamination process means that a rock can hit the windshield, but only the outer layer of glass will crack. This means that you will not need to replace a whole windshield every time a small rock gets flung at your car when driving.
- Shattering: In more intense and higher speed impacts, such as a crash, the windshield will break. Instead of breaking into shards like a window might, a windshield will shatter into pebble-type bits because they can still adhere to the vinyl. This means the glass is a lot safer, and less terrifyingly sharp like broken glass often is.
While every make and model of car has a different windshield, they essentially rely on these same features. These features make the driver safer, and it is all thanks to the intelligent design of windshield glass.
