The number of applications for laminating services seems to grow every day. The basic idea just has so many potential uses. There are even some slightly different takes on it. One of the most interesting is automotive laminated glass. We want to have a closer look here, including at the history. Then, if you want to arrange lamination, you can talk to us.
What is it?
Most people will be familiar with the practice of lamination; you apply a transparent protective film to the exterior of a product. It can provide protection against wear and tear, moisture, and more. Automotive glass is a bit different though. It actually features two panes of glass with an interfill layer. Most commonly the film layer is polyvinyl butyral (PVB). It offers a strong bond, optical clarity, and many other benefits, including noise reduction. However, in some cases alternatives like Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) are chosen.
The interesting thing here is the two panes of glass and interfill are bonded together using high heat and pressure. Typically you need an autoclave. The process is so good that you can’t tell the product is actually three layers of material. Crucially, it means that if the glass is ever broken, it will remain in place. This is essential for safety reasons. As a result, it is the most popular option for automotive applications and things like skylights.
Automotive history
Early vehicles had standard glass windscreens, made from flat glass (the broad term for different materials such as float, plate, or sheet glass.
The idea of laminated glass dates back to 1905. It took quite a while for it to really take off as a viable material for different products. At first it was popular for things like goggles and gas masks. It took until the mid 20s for automotive manufacturers in the US to use it in windscreens. The biggest early mover was Ford, requiring all vehicles to have laminated glass in 1928.
There was a huge amount of research and development in the following decades. The goal was to improve the visibility and penetration resistance. It began one of the first big pushes to develop laminating services.
Sadly, while products did improve, initially they were only suitable for military use. There were further improvements in the 60s, but it wasn’t until the 70s we got studies showing that laminated glass was superior to tempered. Even then, it took a while for markets to adjust.
Interestingly, in the 70s just 10% of cars in the world had windscreens with laminated safety glass. By the early 80s though, it was up to 80%. Today, it is a legal requirement in every country. In fact, manufacturers must comply with strict regulations, especially in terms of penetration.
Crucially though, research and development is also continuing. This includes exploring a variety of other features for laminated glass. Key ones include more security and heatable windscreens.
Speak to us about laminating services
As you can see, a simple piece of film can have a massive impact on different products. It can create safer glass for vehicles, handrails, skylights, and much more. In addition, you can rely on laminate to protect various substrates from moisture, UV, dirt, scratches, and more. Therefore, it is not really surprising there is such high demand for lamination and R&D to keep expanding the applications.
If you want laminating services for different projects, you can rely on us. We’ve got a wealth of experience, especially when it comes to applying laminate to sheet materials like timber, metal, and paper or card. We’ll achieve great results for our clients. Get in touch today and let us know what you need; we can even suggest laminates if you want a recommendation.