The windshield of your vehicle plays a crucial role in your vehicle’s safety and structural integrity. It protects you from debris from the elements and provides structural support to the car’s roof. A damaged windshield-from a small chip or crack to a larger impact- can compromise functionality and even pose a safety risk to your vehicle.
This article provides advice for damaged windshields, from understanding the extent of the damage to exploring repair options and why timely fixes are crucial.
The Science of Windshield Glass: How It Works
It is possible to repair a windshield only if you know a little about the type of glass on your vehicle and how it is made. Modern windshield screens are not just a simple sheet of glass but are made of laminated safety glass—two layers of glass bonded with a layer of plastic in between. All these constructions are meant to accommodate sustained blows during minor accidents, reduce the chances of breaking, and scatter the glass particles in case of an accident.
Polyvinvy butyral, or PVB, the innermost plastic layer, contributes significantly to windshield safety. When it breaks, the PVB layer binds the individual pieces of glass to one another so they do not fragment and cause harm. This is why when one gets a chip or crack on their windshield, it may not break fully—thanks to the PVB layer.
Understanding Different Types of Windshield Damage: Going Beyond the Basics
As with any other regular article, this one covers the common chips, cracks, and star breaks, but the author elaborates on each type and what might cause them.
1. The Impact of Stress Fractures
Windshield damage is caused by stresses resulting from pressure and temperature changes, resulting in a stress fracture. Stress fractures are different from the cracks that appear after a foreign object has made an impact on the glass, as these develop from the inside out. They are generally developed by temperature fluctuations (as in turning the defrost on a cold glass) or pressure from the car’s framing. Most of these fractures begin with the margins and then extend inwards.
2. Surface Scuffs and Scratches
Minor scratches and abrasion on the outer surface of windshields do not imply that the windshield cannot hold its shape, but the vision is impaired, and the glass is unpleasant. Most of these…
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