Laminated PET-based Solar Control Automotive Glazing with Increased Functionality

Ric P. Shimshock, Dave Niehous

The utilization of laminated PET based solar control automotive glazings in windscreens, sidelites and backlites continues to grow. Expanded production capacity and new reflected colors provide glazing engineers with more options to meet aesthetic design goals, reduced solar load requirements and increased thermal comfort for occupants. With a downsized air conditioner, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions can also be achieved. Popular models of the conventional automotive fleets with large glazing areas such as SUVs and minivans present significant challenges to the thermal comfort engineer. Hybrid vehicles will also require reduced thermal load strategies since auxiliary power will be limited. PET based solar control laminates are readily integrated into current glass laminating lines. New developments with PET based solar control films can provide glazing features which increased functionality. Windscreen deicing and antenna properties can be implemented in a straightforward manner into the glazing system. Prototype PET based heatable windscreens have been produced for three types of automotive platforms which have been tested against both summer and winter performance objectives. Defrost times in these prototypes have been reduced to less than 5 minutes, and long term vehicular durability testing is underway. Near term production readiness is the goal of these development activities.

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