Laminated glass

Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by an interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), between its two or more layers of glass. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. This produces a characteristic "spider web" cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass.

History

Laminated glass was invented in 1903 by the French chemist Édouard Bénédictus. Inspired by a laboratory accident, Bénédictus developed the idea of laminated glass while working on the creation of high-strength plastics and films. He found that when a glass flask coated with the plastic cellulose nitrate was dropped, it shattered but did not break into pieces.

Production

The production of laminated glass involves bonding two or more layers of glass together with a plastic interlayer, usually PVB. The assembly is then heated and pressurized to initiate the bonding process. This process ensures the complete adhesion of the vinyl and the glass. In the case of the windshields, the PVB layer provides certain benefits such as high sound insulation, 99% UV protection, and high heat resistance.

Applications

Laminated glass is used when there is a possibility of human impact or where the glass could fall if shattered. It is commonly used in automobile windshields, but is also used in building facades, skylight glazing, and railings. Due to its safety features, it is also used in the construction of hurricane-resistant structures and buildings in earthquake-prone areas.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of laminated glass is its safety feature. It is designed to prevent injury by shattering into small, dull pieces rather than large, sharp shards. Laminated glass also offers a high degree of sound insulation and blocks 99% of incoming UV radiation.

However, laminated glass is more expensive than other types of glass. It also requires special handling and installation techniques, which can increase the overall cost of a project.

See Also

• Tempered glass
• Safety glass
• Bulletproof glass
• Smart glass