Windshield
Windshields protect the vehicle's occupants from wind and flying debris such as dust, insects, and rocks, and provide an aerodynamically formed window towards the front.
[citation needed] They were replaced with windshields made of toughened glass and were fitted in the frame using a rubber or neoprene seal.
[2] Modern, glued-in windshields contribute to the vehicle's rigidity, but the main force for innovation has historically been the need to prevent injury from sharp glass fragments.
The urethane sealant is protected from UV in sunlight by a band of dark dots called a frit around the edge of the windshield.
[4] On a rainy day, water refraction on aircraft windshields can mislead pilots into believing that they are flying at a higher altitude than they actually are due to the horizon appearing lower than it is.
In aircraft windshields, an electric current is applied through a conducting layer of tin(IV) oxide to generate heat to prevent icing.
A similar system for automobile windshields, introduced on Ford vehicles as "Quickclear" in Europe ("InstaClear" in North America) in the 1980s and through the early 1990s, used this conductive metallic coating applied to the inboard side of the outer layer of glass.
Other glass manufacturers utilize a grid of micro-thin wires to conduct the heat especially on the later European Ford Transit vans.
The use of thermal glass prevents some navigation systems from functioning correctly, as the embedded metal blocks the satellite signal.
[citation needed][dubious – discuss] The twin aeroscreen setup (often called Brooklands) was popular among older sports and modern cars in vintage style.
Also several glass manufacturers have experimented with nano type coatings designed to repel external contaminants with varying degrees of success but to date none of these have made it to commercial applications.
Some of the most know certifications are US DOT, EU ECE, Chinese CCC, South African SABS and Indian BIS standards.
[8] Repair of cracks up to 6.1 cm (2.4 inches) is within permissible limits; automobile glass with more severe damage needs to be replaced.
Aircraft windshields are designed in such a way that even if a crack were to extend all the way across the panel, the structural integrity is maintained via multiple failsafe methods in both frame and the glass plies.
Consumers may be unaware that the MDAT or SDAT time is focused on safety and not necessarily on the quality, durability, or warranty of the installation.
Waste disposal of laminated glass is no longer permitted in a landfill in most European countries as the End of Life Vehicles Directive (ELV) is implemented.
The application of heat then melts the laminating plastic, usually, polyvinyl butyral "PVB" enabling both the glass and the interior film to be recycled.
