Windows and glass are an integral part of modern cars and few people pay much attention to them. But they have a number of roles and technologies involved that can be very interesting. Let's find out in the article below.
Windshields, rear windows, side windows, and even panoramic sunroofs – the various glass and windows are standard car parts that have not undergone revolutionary changes. So you might think that car windows are all the same and have not really evolved. Although manufacturing technology, legal requirements, and functionality have remained essentially unchanged for decades, the glass and window industry is constantly evolving and exploring new standards.
Skoda Kodiaq Panorama sunroof. There are essentially two basic types of glass used in cars today. “There is single-layer tempered glass and laminated glass,” explains Milan Sluka, head of glass and windows at Škoda Technical Development. Single-layer tempered glass is used mainly for side windows, but is also used, for example, for the openings of sunroofs. “Tempered glass breaks into small pieces that pose less of a danger to the occupants than large, sharp pieces of glass,” Sluka explains, explaining why this type of glass is used.
Laminated glass is essentially made up of three parts: two layers of glass with a thin film between them. “This type of glass does not shatter when broken, so it is used without exception in windshields, where there are strict requirements to prevent objects from penetrating the glass,” says Sluka. Laminated glass can also be used in side and rear windows, often to improve sound insulation.
Cửa sổ bên cường lực thường được tạo hình trên đường lăn, trong đó một phần kính phẳng được uốn thành hình dạng mong muốn. Đối với các cửa sổ có đường cong hai mặt phẳng, phương pháp sản xuất cơ bản là sử dụng phương pháp sản xuất cơ bản là làm lệch trọng lực của ô kính, nhưng đối với các hình dạng phức tạp hơn, hình dạng vẫn cần được ép trong khuôn. Kính chắn gió có hình dạng rất phức tạp ngày nay có thể được sản xuất, nhưng càng phức tạp thì giá càng cao. Đồng thời, kính càng cong thì góc nhìn càng bị bóp méo. Các thông số này được Škoda kiểm soát cẩn thận và về chất lượng nhìn, nhà sản xuất ô tô Séc tuân theo các tiêu chuẩn nghiêm ngặt của Tập đoàn Volkswagen thậm chí còn khắt khe hơn cả luật pháp.
Tô màu cho kính xe: có và không
Pháp luật chủ yếu liên quan đến độ trong suốt của cửa sổ ô tô. Kính chắn gió và cửa sổ bên phía trước phải có độ trong suốt tối thiểu 70%, nếu không xe không thể chạy trên đường. “Đó là lý do tại sao nhiều loại phim dán kính ô tô làm tối màu kính từ các bên thứ ba lại là một vấn đề,” Sluka giải thích. Nói một cách đơn giản, các cửa sổ phía trước không thể được nhuộm màu. Một mức độ mờ nhất định (lên đến 30%) được cung cấp bởi chính vật liệu thủy tinh và có thể là sự hiện diện của công nghệ sưởi kính chắn gió.
The heating system for windshields can use very fine tungsten wires or a thin metal layer applied by vapor deposition. Škoda uses both solutions: some models offer wire-heated windshields while others use the metal-layer solution. Although drivers often do not notice the wires, they can be distracting to some people.
Skoda Scala, for example, has a specially shaped rear tailgate glass extending below the brand logo. Windshields must provide good visibility not only for the driver but also for cameras and sensors mounted under the glass. Modern head-up and windshield displays require special films to compensate for double images or ghosting; window shape is also important to avoid image distortion.
At the rear, designers accept more compromises: tinting and darker glass aim to improve passenger comfort inside the cabin. Tinting can be achieved by adding pigment to molten glass or by inserting a colored interlayer within laminated glass.
On modern cars, the windshield must also offer good visibility for sensors and cameras used by driver assistance systems.
Thú vị với cửa sổ trời
Sunroofs are less constrained by visibility rules but must meet safety requirements and help protect the interior from overheating. Panoramic roofs make the cabin feel airy but need to limit heat ingress; internal metal layers reflect sunlight and anti-reflection coatings reduce glare. Škoda Enyaq uses a modern panoramic roof with a thin metal layer and anti-reflection treatments. Milan Sluka notes that darker glass makes the eye more sensitive to reflections. Recent developments include glass that can be darkened or lightened on demand; Škoda expects such windows in the near future.
Tính thực tế lâu dài
Despite developments, automotive glass is long-lived. “If the glass is not broken, its lifespan is essentially unlimited,” Sluka says. Glass requires little special maintenance, though wiper blades should be checked and cleaned or replaced to avoid scratches from dirt and small stones, which are hard to repair and can cause inspection issues.
The recyclability of automotive glass matters for environmental concerns. “Automotive glass alone cannot be reused to produce more automotive glass because of the impurities in the recycled material,” explains Sluka.
An interesting detail is how front and rear windows are fitted to the body. Whereas in the past glass sat on a rubber gasket, today glass is bonded with a flexible adhesive, allowing the glass and body to work together under thermal expansion while making the glass an important part of the car’s overall frame. The first bonded glass appeared on the first Škoda Octavia; the Škoda Felicia was among the last to still use adhesive-assisted fitting.
What did the first cars have to do with windows?
Glass first appeared on cars in the early 20th century; some Laurin & Klement models before 1910 had flat windshields. From the 1920s, windshields became common, with side and rear windows added on some body styles. Laminated safety glass emerged in the 1930s and curved glass in the 1950s. For example, the Škoda 1200 (from 1952) had a two-panel windscreen, while the Škoda 440 Spartak (1955) featured a curved windscreen and rear window. Much automotive glass technology was developed decades ago and still serves today: visibility for the driver, safety and thermal comfort.
Skoda 1200 – the final version of one of the Czech automaker's dual-pane windshields.