The History of Windshields

As automobiles developed, a windshield was an optional addition you could purchase for an extra cost. The speeds were still low by today's standards, so dust and debris weren't disturbed as much. In 1915, windshields began to come as a standard part of cars, but the manufacturers placed ordinary plate glass on the frames to block wind and dirt.

The problem with plate glass, however, is the way it reacts to an impact. If the car gets into an accident, plate glass shatters into large chunks that would cause injuries. If anyone inside the car went through the windshield or into the path of the breaking glass, they'd likely receive serious injuries. Often, this led to several lawsuits against the automobile companies until they began to develop safety glass.

As Ford Motor Company received many of the initial lawsuits, they led the charge in developing safety glass - a toughened glass that wouldn't break into large, sharp pieces. Instead, they designed it to break into small bits with blunt edges so that people wouldn't get cut on the glass. The tempered material with ground edges was robust and more resistant to damage in the first place.

Safety glass was sufficient for the side and rear windows, but windshields needed extra help to stand up against more frequent impacts. Automobile manufacturers began to experiment with laminated glass, which involves a layer of sealant between two plates of the material. The resin allowed the windshield to stay relatively secure, even if it shattered on impact.

Additional strength helped build the integrity of the car's structure, which was a bonus safety feature. Passengers weren't as likely to fly through the windshield on impact with the layers of the laminated glass holding it together. The resulting demands for safety glass and laminated glass made manufacturers search for more economical ways to produce it, especially when it became a mandatory feature in 1937.

The sealants that put two panes of glass together varied throughout the industry. But in 1938, a man named Carleton Ellis developed a chemical called polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The compound proved to be clearer and stronger than the previous resin or cellulose, and it retained its clarity after years of use. It even blocked out UV rays, which became more of a concern as windshield safety became a foregone conclusion.

Those concerns about UV rays likely led to privacy glass, which is less transparent and retains its shading as long as the glass remains whole. The glass allows very little light to enter, which is why it's at the top of many windshields to protect drivers' eyes from the sun. Today, many states won't allow you to use privacy glass in your windshield or front windows that shield more than 30% of light.

Does your windshield need help to get back to drivable quality? Are you looking for a trustworthy company to apply tints to your windows? Affiliated Auto Glass has you covered. Our mobile windshield repair technicians will come to you, rather than having you wait for an appointment and taking time out of your busy schedule. Contact us today to get your auto glass repairs or tints.