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| Laminated Glass History |
Created to save lives
Today's laminated safety glass was born from research conducted in the 1930s by a consortium of companies, including DuPont, asked to find a clear, tough, adhesive material that could be manufactured efficiently into automobile windshields. As car ownership and speeds increased, too many windshields were being shattered by rocks kicked up from dirt roads, creating a flying glass hazard for drivers and passengers.
A solution was found in a tough, clear, flexible plastic sheet made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), which could be sandwiched in between glass to create a safety windshield. DuPont™ Butacite® brand PVB was introduced, with excellent adhesion to glass, long-term weather durability and permanent transparency. Automobile manufacturers were quick to accept PVB sheet as a safety standard, and the glass laminating industry was born.
Decades of rapid growth and innovation
The use of laminated glass quickly spread to buildings, where broken glass can be a hazard as well. Unlike ordinary or tempered glass, which falls apart when fractured, laminated glass stays in place. It helps keep the building envelope intact, reduces the danger of glass shards, and helps prevent people from falling through sudden openings.
Users of laminated glass soon discovered that it also helped reduce noise, block harmful UV rays, cut energy bills and protect against break-ins. In cars and in buildings, use of laminated glass continues to grow, increasing safety worldwide.
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