What does family safety, rising energy costs, sleeker designs, and vehicle interior maintenance all have in common? These are just some of the factors that have gone into the forefront of auto glass technology. According to Auto Glass magazine, which is published by the National Glass Association, the amount of Arizona auto glass used in a car has been growing steadily at two to three percent a year - meaning that vehicles have 25 percent more glass than 20 years ago.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) May 1, 2007 -- What does family safety, rising energy costs, sleeker designs, and vehicle interior maintenance all have in common? These are just some of the factors that have gone into the forefront of auto glass technology. According to Auto Glass magazine, which is published by the National Glass Association, the amount of Arizona auto glass used in a car has been growing steadily at two to three percent a year - meaning that vehicles have 25 percent more glass than 20 years ago.
These are just some of the factors that have gone into the forefront of auto glass technology. Let's take an imaginary journey from the earliest history of the automobile to the "other side" - where auto glass is no longer just a means to provide protection.
Imagine the Past of Auto Glass
Slip on those goggles and raingear and let us begin the trip in a vehicle with a folding windshield! The earliest windshields, introduced by 1904, allowed the driver to tip the top half down for an unobstructed view. These "wrap-around" windshields were actually considered a luxury and sold as optional equipment to motorists. By as late as 1919, nine out of ten cars had only a one-person top and side curtains. It wasn't until 1929 that the majority of vehicles were equipped with glass all around to provide protection from wind, rain, mud splashes, road dust and flying debris.
Two inventors were responsible for the inception of safety glass which was originally developed in 1905: French scientist Edouard Benedictus accidentally discovered safety glass when he knocked a flask to the floor containing nitrocellulose; it had dried up leaving an adhesive film which kept the bits of fragmented glass from separating. And British inventor, John C. Wood, had developed his own method which came to be produced under the brand name Triplex.
Some additional auto glass breakthroughs include the following:
PPG's first Solar glass, Solex, brought about a change in style and comfort in 1952 to absorb some of the infrared, heat-producing part of the solar spectrum to avoid interior damage.
Curved side windows began to appear in the early 60's and fabricating techniques were developed to permit drilling of holes in side windows for anchoring and lifting mechanisms. What did this mean? More styling flexibility and the opportunity to add more built-in safety features.
Current & Future Auto Glass Trends
Increasing popularity of electrochromic mirrors represents another growth trend for upcoming vehicle models. This product lessens the glare from car lights, reducing the danger of night driving.
Laminated auto glass, made by placing clear plastic film between two glass panes, then sealing using heat and pressure, has also become very popular. Laminated auto glass offers improved sound control, and many buyers like the idea of a quieter vehicle. Vehicle owners also want auto glass products to absorb more of the sun's ultraviolet rays and heat.
PPG's Sungate® windshield provides a heat-reflecting coating laminated between the two layers of glass effectively blocking 60 percent of the sun's total energy...this keeps the cars interior cooler and blocks damaging ultraviolet radiation. The Sungate® antenna windshield provides for full-range AM/FM radio reception, eliminating the need for an exterior mast antenna.
Since the price of energy affects development of auto glass, glaziers and designers are constantly developing alternate ways to improve auto glass efficiency on vehicles - the use of different coatings will continue to grow.
About SunTec Auto Glass
Arizona Auto Glass is an Arizona family-owned business, serving most of Maricopa and Pinal counties. We are http://www.suntecautoglass.com/auto-glass-phoenix.htm [SunTec Auto Glass
__title__ Phoenix auto glass repair professionals and specialize in auto glass replacement and auto glass repair with OEM parts. Our auto glass technicians are NGA (National Glass Association) trained and certified and we are proud to endorse AGRSS (Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard).
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