The auto glass found on your vehicle plays a very important role for both you and your vehicle. The windshield in particular provides important structural support for all vehicles. The windows and windshield are made of different types of safety glass, each specially designed to protect you in the event of an accident. In 2002, over 330,000 vehicles were involved in rollover accidents, and the windshields and windows of these vehicles played a vital role in each case.
How is Auto Glass Made?
Laminated Glass
Windshields are made of a completely different type of glass than the rest of the windows found on your vehicle. The windshield uses what is called laminated glass. Used since 1927, laminated glass is created by placing a thin sheet of adhesive plastic between two layers of glass. This transparent plastic is called polyvinyl butyrate, or PVB, and is infused with the glass using extreme pressure and heat. The PVB sheet holds the glass together in the event of impact, and prevents the windshield from shattering. This helps prevent further injury to the occupants that may be caused from the shattered glass.
Tempered Glass
On the other hand, all the remaining windows of your vehicle, including the rear window, are constructed of tempered glass. This tempered glass is manufactured using rapid heating and cooling methods, which strengthen the glass. When the structural stability of tempered glass is compromised, it does not shatter; rather, it breaks into small, pebble-like pieces which are dull, and do not cut like shattered glass.
So what does this mean to you? Well, in a few words, laminated glass is repairable, but tempered glass is not. This is the reason why you see companies that advertise windshield repair, but not window repair.
Windshields
Windshields are a key component to the structural integrity of vehicles. In the event of an accident, the windshield is designed to take the kinetic energy from the impact and disperse it evenly around the passenger compartment of the vehicle, protecting the occupants.
In the event of a rollover, the windshield prevents the roof from collapsing inward into the passenger compartment. In some vehicles, the windshield can provide up to 50% of the auto's rollover strength.
Windshields are also designed to operate in conjunction with your vehicle's airbags. Properly installed windshields provide support to the back of the airbag, sustaining it and allowing it to fully deploy into the occupant compartment, rather than into the dash.
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