Modern Windshields are more than just a Piece of Glass

NEWARK, N.J. - Dec. 12, 2016 - PRLog -- Customers understand that having a windshield is important, but it is often overlooked that it is actually part of the vehicle's overall structural integrity. Windshields are laminated glass, where generally a polyvinyl butyral film is sandwiched between two pieces of tempered glass. The windshield usually only
seems to get attention when it is in need of a chip repair, or full replacement. In the upcoming years windshields will become even more important, as many modern day electronics and safety features are now integrated into the glass.

Before getting into the modern day windshield, we will reflect back on the history and how the windshield came to development. Back in the early 1900s, windshields were first made using regular glass. This meant that if it broke, it shattered into jagged shards upon impact. It wasn't until 1904 where French chemist Edouard Benedictus found that glass flasks with a dried resin flim inside broke when dropped, but still kept their shape and didn't shatter. This is where the idea of laminated safety glass came from. Oldsmobile was the first to make windshields a standard in 1915, and Henry Ford mandated it on the Model T in 1919. Tempered glass began replacing the laminated material in the 1930s.

Laminated windshields (http://autoglassnj.com/) today can provide a wide array of features besides safety. To start, they can absorb nearly all of the sun's UV rays, helping to keep your interior in better shape over the years. Rain sensors that automatically activate the windshield wipers are now integrated into the windshield.
Photosensitive materials can darken or lighten the windshield glass. Heads up displays appear to "float" in front of the driver which project important information from the dashboard. Pedestrian detection and weather and traffic updates could also be placed on the windshield.
Owens Corning is at the forefront of windshield evolution, and are in the process of developing lighter (making the vehicle more fuel efficient) and stronger glass. The outer glass laminate remains the same, but the inner layer is made out of Gorilla Glass, which is the same quality material on your smart phone.
With these improvements, the possibilities will be endless in which we will continue to see additional cameras, sensors, and some features we cannot even begin to imagine. Gone will be the days of driving around with a broken windshield, simply due to the fact that the vehicle will not be able to function

properly anymore.Customers understand that having a windshield is important, but it is often overlooked that it is actually part of the vehicle's overall structural integrity. Windshields are laminated glass, where generally a polyvinyl butyral film is sandwiched between two pieces of tempered glass. The windshield usually only seems to get attention when it is in need of a chip repair, or full
replacement. In the upcoming years windshields will become even more important, as many modern day electronics and safety features are now integrated into the glass.
Before getting into the modern day windshield, we will reflect back on the history and how the windshield came to development. Back in the early 1900s, windshields were first made using regular glass. This meant that if it broke, it shattered into jagged shards upon impact. It wasn't until 1904 where French chemist Edouard Benedictus found that glass flasks with a dried resin flim inside broke when dropped, but still kept their shape and didn't shatter. This is where the idea of laminated safety glass came from. Oldsmobile was the first to make windshields a standard in 1915, and Henry Ford mandated it on the Model T in 1919. Tempered glass began replacing the laminated material in the 1930s.
Laminated windshields today can provide a wide array of features besides safety. To start, they can absorb nearly all of the sun's UV rays, helping to keep your interior in better shape over the years. Rain sensors that automatically activate the windshield wipers are now integrated into the windshield. Photosensitive materials can darken or lighten the windshield glass. Heads up
displays appear to "float" in front of the driver which project important information from the dashboard. Pedestrian detection and weather and traffic updates could also be placed on the windshield.
Owens Corning is at the forefront of windshield evolution, and are in the process of developing lighter (making the vehicle more fuel efficient) and stronger glass. The outer glass laminate remains the same, but the inner layer is made out of Gorilla Glass, which is the same quality material on your smart phone. With these improvements, the possibilities will be endless in which we will continue to see additional cameras, sensors, and some features we cannot even
begin to imagine. Gone will be the days of driving around with a broken windshield, simply due to the fact that the vehicle will not be able to function properly anymore.