The glass parts on your auto (glass on the windshield, windows, etc) serve various functions or purposes.
Basically, auto glass is incorporated in the design of an automobile to give car drivers visibility.
That is, drivers, need to see the front, side, and back so that they can easily ascertain their location and relative position to other automobiles and other roads/roadside elements.
However, automotive glass nowadays is being designed with consideration for far more than mere visibility.
Comfort
With the developments in the automotive glass industry, auto glass not only provides visibility but also comfort to car drivers and passengers.
Auto glass is no longer merely something to see through; it is now being actively used to ensure the comfort of the car occupants.
First, the glass should let as little light from the sun as possible to get into the interior of the car.
The purpose of limiting the amount of sunlight that can penetrate inside the car is to prevent overheating inside.
A greater sunlight penetration means a hotter car interior. A hotter car interior means a car’s air conditioner would have to work double-time to create a much cooler temperature inside the car.
By using auto glass that can reflect or absorb solar energy, the car will not heat up as much. The result is less stress on the car’s air-conditioning unit. This also means less pollution caused by car AC units.
During winter, however, the auto glass should also help maintain the warmer temperatures inside the car.
Thus, the auto glass should also have insulating properties so that it can keep heat in and keep the cold out during wintertime.
Aside from temperature regulating properties, the auto glass should also have sound insulation. This will ensure the comfort of a car driver and passengers as noise and sounds from outside will be minimized.
Safety
Of course, auto glass should also help promote the safety of the car driver and passengers.
Nowadays, it is becoming standard to use laminated glass in car manufacturing. Laminated glass is layered so that upon impact, the glass may disintegrate but the plastic lamination will keep the shattered parts together.
This will prevent any injuries and lacerations that usually result from flying glass fragments. Laminated glass is also usually strong enough to prevent people from getting thrown out of the car during accidents.
On another note, auto glass nowadays also usually provides protection from the harmful rays of the sun.
Aside from heat reflectors or absorbers, the automotive glass may be given sun screening capabilities so that UV ray penetration can be regulated.
