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WINDSHIELD | GLASS REPLACEMENT

Windshields are composed of two pieces of glass with a layer of vinyl in between, and they’re designed to protect and support the structural integrity of a vehicle. However, if a windshield has been weakened due to damage like a rock chip, it may not provide optimal protection during a collision.

The airbags on vehicles are designed to inflate upward, towards the windshield and use the windshield as support to hold the airbags into operating shape or the operating area.

So a crack running along on a windshield, even a small rock chip could allow the force of the airbag to punch (push) the glass outward, rather than give you the collision protection and support.

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HISTORY OF LAMINATED GLASS (WINDSHIELDS)

Early windshields were made of ordinary window glass, but that could lead to serious injuries in the event of a crash. A series of lawsuits led up to the development of stronger windshields. The most notable example of this is the Pane vs. Ford case of 1917 that decided against Pane in that he was only injured through reckless driving. They were replaced with windshields made of toughened glass and were fitted in the frame using a rubber or neoprene seal. The hardened glass shattered into many mostly harmless fragments when the windshield broke. These windshields, however, could shatter from a simple rock chip. In 1919, Henry Ford solved the problem of flying debris by using the new French technology of glass laminating. Between 1919 and 1929, Ford ordered the use of laminated glass on all of his vehicles.

Laminated glass was invented in 1903 by the French chemist Edouard Benedictus, inspired by a laboratory accident. A glass flask had become coated with the plastic cellulose nitrate and when dropped shattered but did not break into pieces. Benedictus fabricated a glass-plastic composite to reduce injuries in car accidents. It was not immediately adopted by automobile manufacturers, but the laminated glass was widely used in the eyepieces of gas masks during World War I.

Modern laminated glass is produced by bonding two or more layers of ordinary annealed glass together with a plastic interlayer, usually polyvinyl butyric (PVB). The PVB is sandwiched by the glass which is passed through rollers to expel any air pockets and form the initial bond then heated to around 70 °C in a pressurized oil bath. The tint at the top of some car windshields is in the PVB. The PVB interlayer also gives the glass a much higher sound insulation rating, due to the damping effect, and also blocks 99% of incoming UV radiation.

Heated automotive windshields were introduced on Ford vehicles as “Quickclear” in Europe (“InstaClear” in North America) in the 1980s and through the early 1990s. An electric current is applied through a conducting layer of tin (IV) oxide to generate heat to prevent icing, this conductive metallic coating is 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. These systems are more typically utilized by European auto manufacturers.

Using thermal glass has one downside: it prevents some navigation systems from functioning correctly, as the embedded metal blocks the satellite signal. This can be resolved by using an external antenna.

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. Almost all nations now require windshields to stay in one piece even if broken, except if pierced by a strong force. Properly installed automobile windshields are also essential to safety; along with the roof of the car, they provide protection to the vehicle’s occupants in the case of a roll-over accident.

In many places, laws restrict the use of heavily tinted glass in vehicle windshields; generally, laws specify the maximum level of tint permitted. Some vehicles have noticeably more tint in the uppermost part of the windshield to block sun glare.

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2. Schedule an Appointment

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3. Drop off your Vehicle

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DOOR GLASS REPLACEMENT

TEMPERED GLASS HISTORY

The first patent on tempered glass was held by chemist Rudolph A. Seiden, born in 1900 in Austria. Though the underlying mechanism was not known at the time, the effects of “tempering” glass have been known for centuries. In about 1660, Prince Rupert of the Rhine brought the discovery of what are now known as “Prince Rupert’s Drops” to the attention of King Charles II. These are teardrop shaped bits of glass which are produced by allowing a molten drop of glass to fall into a bucket of water, thereby rapidly cooling it. They have the curious ability to withstand a blow from a hammer on the bulbous end without breaking, but the drops will disintegrate explosively if the tail end is even slightly damaged. The teardrops were often used by the King as a practical joke.

Toughened glass is processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempering creates balanced internal stresses which cause the glass, when broken, to crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards. The granular chunks are less likely to cause injury. As a result of its safety and strength, tempered glass is used in a variety of demanding applications, including automotive windows, shower doors, architectural glass doors and tables, refrigerator trays, as a component of bulletproof glass, for diving masks, and various types of plates and cookware. The federal safety laws require that window glass be tempered if each of the following criteria are met: sill height within 18 in (0.457 m) of the floor, top edge greater than 36 in (0.914 m) from the floor, area greater than 9 ft² (0.836 m²), and horizontal distance to nearest walking surface of less than 36 in (0.914 m)

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ROCK CHIP REPAIR

  • Whether it’s a bull’s-eye, half moon or star shape – can typically be repaired, but larger cracks usually mean the windshield has to be replaced at an auto glass shop.
  • In technical terms, this is done by vacuuming out the air, once the rock hits it, creates a little air pocket where the glass is separated. So we draw out any air and then inject resin and cure it with a UV light. The process takes about 30 -45 minutes start to finish at a qualified auto  glass shop.

Windshield Repair

IS IT NECESSARY TO REPAIR A CHIP THAT’S NOT OBSTRUCTING YOUR LINE OF VISION?

Even a small chip could eventually turn into a larger crack.

What makes a chip typically run is any flex in the vehicle’s body from driving, or things like cleaning it from the inside.

The wipers and weather will actually drive dirt and debris into the rock chip, and windshield washer fluids contain dyes, so when you repair it in a month or so, it’s not going to be optimum. There will definitely be some discolouring and it will look dirty, rather than a nice clean fill. If you fix it within a day or two, it will be a lot better than if you wait.

This is a temporary solution from preventing further cracking on windshields. Due to safety regulation and standard by the automotive safety data, the windshield is part of the structural integrity of the vehicle. And if your windshield is damaged behind repair, you should have it replace by qualify automotive glass technicians at a qualified auto glass shop. A chip as long as it’s under the size of a loonie, we can certainly repair it.

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  • ALLSET AUTO GLASS, LTD.
  • 3810 MAIN STREET VANCOUVER B.C.,V5V 3N9
  • Call: 604-537-5330
  • Fax: (604) 872-2267

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