A car’s windshield is sometimes the only thing better the driver and the dirt from the road; dirt that contains stones among its various things. But suppose a stone comes flying in and hits the windshield, the glass does not break apart, but remains there with a spider web crack. It has taken a long time for the glass to get here and many types of glass have been experimented on and you should be thankful for it.
Origins:
Needless to say, the first car invented went pretty slow and didn’t need a windshield, it was only later when powerful engines began powering cars, that windshield became necessary. Even then, float glass was used for windshields thereby keeping the costs low. But when the windows broke, they injured the driver and passenger. French scientist Edouard Benedictus then proposed the use of a glass that was made with cellulose nitrate, which didn’t shatter when it broke. But the high production cost of the glass meant that car manufacturers refused to use it.
World War 1:
During WW1, safety glass was used to make the eyepiece in gas masks. Automakers saw that the glass worked well to protect the soldiers. They debated the use of such glass in vehicles arguing that while it would be much safer, it would also send the cost of the vehicles up, thereby risking sales. However, many of them decided to risk it and safety glass was considered being used to make windshields for cars.
Use in Cars:
In the decade that followed the war, windshields were still not used as much in cars. But when they were used, they still injured many passengers. Resulting in the injuries that followed and the public losing their trust in vehicles, the first use of safety glass in cars was in 1927, leading to its popularity in the years to come.
Popularity:
In 1928, Duplate glass was introduced by the American company Pittsburgh Plate Glass company. Designs were improved upon and safety glass became a common feature in vehicles. By 1966, safety glass could be found in all passenger cars in the country and is now an important safety feature in all cars.
Laminated glass is usually used in Windshields as it is a safety glass that holds together when impacted. It is made by sandwiching between two or more slices of glass, which helps the glass form breaking is called poly vinyl butyral (PVB). This kind of glass for cars keeps you safe and protects you from sudden accident this glass will stay together, and not shatter.
The use of glass as a windshield has evolved from not being used to becoming an important safety measure. From regular glass that injured the passengers to safety glass, windshields have come a long way from simply protecting the passenger from wind to becoming a lifesaver.
Nowadays windshields continue to grow in complexity and sophistication. Windshields are larger and often more raked. Some provide increased visibility with a windshield that extends up into the roof above the driver or one that wraps into the side of the car. Modern windshields can filter 95-99% of UV rays. Since the 90s a hybrid film with dye to absorb heat and metal to ban sun rays has provided significant reduction in infrared (IR) rays and consequent internal heat gain.