Recent trends in automotive laminated glazing

Michel Van Russelt, AAGMA Chairman

The use of laminated glass for windscreens is well known and has been mandatory in most countries since the early 80’s but its use in other automotive glazing applications is far more recent. Whilst a few high end car models used laminated backlights with embedded tungsten wires for defrosting purpose in the late 80’s, the use of laminated side glass started in 1994 with Audi A8 followed a few years later by Mercedes (Sclass) in 1996 then Volvo(S80). In most cases laminated side glazing is offered as an option, each car manufacturer insisting on one or 2 main features as main benefits. The paper covers the main reasons why this product has been chosen for these applications and shows the trends observed over the last few years in terms of adoptions. We will explain the additional benefits provided by the PVB interlayer in the glass construction: for example, the acoustics benefit, the possibility to develop many different colors, solar heat management as well as safety and security, or the possibility to project clear images in head up displays. The paper will provide a clear view of the actual situation in terms of the use of automotive laminated glazing in different world areas and project some trends for the coming years.

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The Authors

Mr. Michel van Russelt Automotive Market Development Director Solutia Europe Sa Michel Van Russelt obtained his Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Louvain (Belgium) in 1970 and work on a PhD Thesis int the laboratory of High Polymers on an industry-University prog... Read more