It is important to note that the type of glass used in cars plays a major role in safety. In the automotive world, there are two types of glass that are most commonly used, namely laminated glass and tempered glass.

Both fall under the category of safety glass, as they are designed to minimize the risk of injury in the event of an accident. Although they may look similar, their functions and characteristics are quite different. To avoid any confusion, let's take a closer look at the differences.

Laminated Glass, the Mainstay of Car Windshields

Laminated glass is usually installed as a windshield or front glass. The structure of this glass consists of two layers of glass that sandwich a layer of PVB (Poly Vinyl Butyral) film approximately 0.76 mm thick. Each layer of glass itself is generally 2 mm thick.

The PVB layer acts as an adhesive and reinforcement, making laminated glass more impact-resistant than regular glass. When cracked or broken, the glass fragments remain attached and do not scatter immediately. As a result, the driver's visibility is relatively maintained and the risk of injury can be reduced.

However, laminated glass also has its drawbacks. Once a crack appears, even if it is small, it can spread quickly. Therefore, when the windshield starts to crack, it should be replaced immediately to prevent further damage and danger while driving.

Tempered Glass: Strong but with Its Own Risks

Unlike laminated glass, tempered glass is generally used for the side and rear windows of cars. This type of glass is known for its strength, even claimed to be five times stronger than laminated glass.

With a thickness of around 5 mm, tempered glass will only shatter under extreme pressure, approximately 1,500 kg per cm². As long as there are no cuts or scratches deeper than one-sixth of its thickness, this glass is relatively safe.

However, if it is damaged and left unrepaired, vibrations or resonance while the car is moving can cause the glass to shatter suddenly. When it breaks, tempered glass shatters into small, blunt pieces, making it safer for passengers.

The downside is that if a hard object hits it at high speed, tempered glass can shatter immediately and allow objects to enter the cabin.

Process and Additional Tips for Safety

In terms of the process, tempered glass actually comes from ordinary glass that is heated to around 600 degrees Celsius and then cooled suddenly. This extreme temperature change alters the molecular structure of the glass, making it much stronger.

For extra protection, car owners can add standard window film to the side windows. This helps to prevent glass shards from scattering. However, it is best to avoid bulletproof window film. The reason is simple: in an emergency, the glass must still be breakable.

If you must break the glass in an emergency, it is recommended to choose the driver's right-side door glass. Besides being more readily available on the market, it is also relatively affordable.

Hopefully, such emergency situations never occur. But at least, understanding the types of car glass can make us more prepared and safer on the road.

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Kenali Perbedaan Kaca Laminated dan Tempered di Mobil

Perlu diketahui, jenis kaca yang dipakai di mobil punya peran besar soal keselamatan. Di dunia otomotif sendiri, ada dua jenis kaca yang paling umum digunakan, yaitu kaca laminated dan kaca tempered.

Keduanya sama-sama masuk kategori safety glass karena dirancang untuk meminimalkan risiko cedera saat kecelakaan. Meski terlihat mirip, fungsi dan karakteristiknya ternyata cukup berbeda. Nah, biar nggak salah kaprah, yuk kenali perbedaannya.

Kaca Laminated, Andalan di Kaca Depan Mobil

Kaca laminated biasanya dipasang sebagai windshield atau kaca depan. Struktur kaca ini terdiri dari dua lapisan kaca yang menjepit lapisan film PVB (Poly Vinyl Butyral) setebal sekitar 0,76 mm. Masing-masing lapisan kacanya sendiri umumnya punya ketebalan 2 mm.

Lapisan PVB berfungsi sebagai perekat sekaligus penguat, sehingga kaca laminated lebih tahan benturan dibanding kaca biasa. Saat retak atau pecah, serpihan kaca tetap menempel dan tidak langsung berhamburan. Efeknya, visibilitas pengemudi masih relatif terjaga dan risiko luka bisa ditekan.

Namun, kaca laminated juga punya kelemahan. Jika sudah muncul retakan, meski kecil, retakannya bisa cepat menyebar. Karena itu, saat kaca depan mulai retak, sebaiknya segera diganti agar tidak makin parah dan membahayakan saat berkendara.

Kaca Tempered, Kuat tapi Punya Risiko Tersendiri

Berbeda dengan laminated, kaca tempered umumnya digunakan di bagian kaca samping dan kaca belakang mobil. Jenis kaca ini terkenal sangat kuat, bahkan diklaim memiliki kekuatan hingga lima kali lipat dibanding kaca laminated.

Dengan ketebalan sekitar 5 mm, kaca tempered baru akan pecah jika menerima tekanan ekstrem, sekitar 1.500 kg per cm². Selama tidak ada luka atau goresan sedalam seperenam dari ketebalannya, kaca ini relatif aman.

Meski begitu, jika sudah mengalami kerusakan dan dibiarkan, getaran atau resonansi saat mobil berjalan bisa membuat kaca pecah secara tiba-tiba. Saat pecah, kaca tempered akan hancur menjadi butiran kecil yang tidak tajam, sehingga lebih aman bagi penumpang.

Kekurangannya, jika ada benda keras menghantam dengan kecepatan tinggi, kaca tempered bisa langsung jebol dan memungkinkan benda masuk ke dalam kabin.

Proses dan Tips Tambahan untuk Keamanan

Secara proses, kaca tempered sebenarnya berasal dari kaca biasa yang dipanaskan hingga sekitar 600 derajat Celsius, lalu didinginkan secara mendadak. Perubahan suhu ekstrem ini mengubah struktur molekul kaca, membuatnya jauh lebih kuat.

Untuk perlindungan ekstra, pemilik mobil bisa menambahkan kaca film standar pada kaca samping. Fungsinya membantu menahan pecahan kaca agar tidak langsung berhamburan. Namun, sebaiknya hindari kaca film anti peluru. Alasannya simpel, dalam kondisi darurat, kaca tetap harus bisa dipecahkan.

Kalau memang terpaksa memecahkan kaca saat keadaan darurat, disarankan memilih kaca pintu sebelah kanan pengemudi. Selain lebih mudah ditemukan di pasaran, harganya juga relatif terjangkau.

Semoga saja kondisi darurat seperti itu nggak pernah terjadi. Tapi setidaknya, memahami jenis kaca mobil bisa bikin kita lebih siap dan lebih aman di jalan.