Coated glass in the automotive industry
by G. Manfre
International Journal of Materials and Product Technology (IJMPT), Vol. 6, No. 3, 1991

Abstract: Inorganic coatings on glasses have reached the level where they will certainly be applied in the automotive industry in order to solve such glazing problems as heat load, heat loss, glare, UV adsorption, disturbed reflections, electromagnetic influence and thermal insulation. Their widespread use will depend on optimising the solution to problems of solar control and heatable glasses while the glass is also capable of the other functions required of it, thus justifying the relatively high cost that is predicted. There remain unsolved problems in optical limits and colour matching. When these are solved solar control glasses are likely to give real advantages in terms of air conditioning and comfort, and heatable glasses will be used in association with electrical power for demisting and deicing. Particular attention is being directed to a class of infrared reflecting and heatable glasses, obtained by selectively coating transparent plastic films that are embedded or bonded in laminated or tempered glasses. Fabricating this type of glasses has mainly been useful for two reasons: (I) to develop versatile techniques to make solar control IR reflecting and heatable glasses for all kinds and dimensions of vehicle glazing; and (2) to assess whether these glasses are really feasible alternatives to directly coated glasses. This paper describes results of some solar control experiments in Fiat cars: to ascertain the actual internal temperature differences found when glazing vehicles with the absorbing and reflecting IR glasses currently available; and to obtain results with a similar purpose using heatable glasses. There is also discussion of how the glasses could be used in glazing all or parts of a car's windows / especially addressing problems of glare. Suggestions are made of the directions of this research in the future.

Online publication date: Fri, 05-Nov-2010

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