Tempered glass has been used in the side and rear windows of automobiles since the 1940s.
History
Glass has been used in car windows since the early 1900s. The danger of regular glass was quickly recognized, and laminated glass was first used in car windshields since about 1919. Tempered glass did not replace regular glass in the side and rear windows of cars until the 1940s and did not come into general use until the 1950s.
Significance
Tempered glass is used in automobile windows to reduce the chance of injury to the occupants in case of an accident.
Function
Tempered glass is about five to 10 times stronger than regular glass and shatters into many small pebble-like fragments when it is impacted, making it safer to use in automobiles than regular glass.
Considerations
Tempered glass is used in the side and rear windows of a car because it is easier to cut through than laminated glass in case of a rescue. Laminated glass is always used in windshields because tempered glass, though less harmful than regular glass, does explode into tiny pieces when it breaks. Laminated glass does not shatter in upon the occupants when broken, as it is stuck together with a layer of plastic.
Warning
Tempered glass must be shaped before it is tempered, as any attempt to cut it afterwards will result in a shattered window.
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