Laminated Side-Lites for Cars

Dr Douglas A Keir

The concept of laminated glass all-round in
vehicles is at last within sight of reality as car
manufacturers react to consumer demands for
better security, acoustics and in-car environment
control. While some executive models are
already laminated, and some glass/plastic
combinations are available for retrofitting, the
introduction of laminated side-lites in mid-range,
higher volume cars may soon offer opportunities
for glass processors. There is still much work to
be done before performance specifications for
laminated body-glass are defined and agreed.
This paper reviews the laminate constructions
which are emerging as serious candidates and
discusses the design, processing and product
considerations for side-lites which must be
addressed to overcome the technical and
commercial barriers to adoption in higher volume
models.

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