Auto Glass

The Evolution of Glass

The auto glass industry is a multi-faceted business that has evolved through the years. The first laminated safety glass made its very first appearance in the 1930's. However, improvements that really made a difference in the quality came in the 1960's. This came with the upgrading of the plastic inner layer of Poly Vinyl Butryal known as PVB. The windshield repair process was actually around prior to the 1970's, but it was only for superficial repair. This consisted of pouring an oil-based liquid into the cracked area to hide the break. It was not a true "fix."

A process that was known as the "Scotch Weld" was developed in 1971. This works by using ultra sound vibrations to get the break clean and then a syringe is used to inject either a resin or an adhesive into the damaged area. This method did not last very long because the equipment that was required to do the repair was too costly to make the process profitable. It did, however, introduce a method that has been perfected for repairing damage done by rocks or similar small cracks.

Auto Glass Improves

An adhesive resin that was clear and matched windshield glass was invented in 1972 and this led the way to being able to repair small chips without having to replace the entire windshield. The competition jumped in and a system was developed as a "vacuum" windshield repair. This process rose to the top in glass replacement in the 1980's. Windshield repair and auto glass replacement became very competitive as more and more companies entered the business.

The marketing of windshield repair changed significantly when glass replacement retailers decided to start a unit that specialized in repairs directly from the manufacturer. This has contributed to a great deal of competition between retail auto glass companies and those companies that specialize in a "repairs only" service. Insurance companies and consumers continue to keep the windshield repair an active and profitable industry.

Other Facts About Glass

Glass is such an interesting product when you consider that it is basically sand. It is high quality silica sand that is mixed with other material such as limestone, soda ash, and powdered cullet. Glass is a process of mixing the batch of materials together, heating to a point of melting, then cooling. As it cools without forming crystals, it becomes transparent.

Another auto glass that is uniquely designed is bullet proof auto glass. This glass can protect at different levels, depending on the weight and thickness of the glass. Protection ranges from stopping .9mm handguns and .357 Magnums to a .30-06 Rifle. There is a special interlayer that is key to the amount of protection that is provided.

Different Qualities of Automobile Glass

There is also a safety measure that has been incorporated into car window glass. It is the procedure of placing wire mesh into the molten glass in the process of development to make a glass that would not shatter when struck. Laminating PVB between two sheets of thin plate glass is what makes automobile windshield safety glass. This holds together even when hard blows are encountered.

The auto glass industry is one that will continue to be around as long as there are automobiles. The quality and longevity of the glass produced continues to be improved making it more important than ever to be sure you are getting the best when you need auto glass repair or replacement. If you get an unbelievably low price on a replacement glass, be sure it is of the quality that is currently in your vehicle, or better. The higher quality glass, the better the protection from shattering injuries.