Plastics,Replacing,Glass,for,N car Plastics Replacing Glass for New Car Windows
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For many new cars, traditional window glass may soon be replacedby light weight plastics. Formally known as polycarbonate glazing, theseplastics windows are already starting to appear in a handful of small vehiclescoming onto the market today, such as the 2014 Fiat 500L, and some industryinsiders believe that the material could become standard in the near future.Even large brands like Ford are hard at work testing and developing the materialin hopes of bringing it into implementation.Weight is the plastics most attractive attribute; as muchas 50 pounds could be stripped from a vehicle if its glass windows werereplaced. In a typical vehicle, the glass accounts for as much as 100 pounds,when combined with the housings and mechanics that hold the windows in place.With the plastic alternative, not only do the windows themselves weigh less,but fewer parts are needed to attach them into a car. With this reduction, avehicle could see noticeable gains in fuel economy, among other benefits.Automakers could even offset the weight with stronger and heavier safetyfeatures to increase occupant protection without increasing overall curb weight.The technology is now at the point where it is ready formass-scale production, says V. Umamaheswaran, global marketing director forthe automotive department of SABICs Innovative Plastics business. Its notjust weight savings [either], its hugely the styling implications and theaerodynamics. Being a strong synthetic material, the plastic could be moldedinto any number of shapes, expanding design possibilities, further increasingsafety and fuel economy potential.Other iterations of the material are already being used inother areas of the automotive industry today, as 95% of all vehicles usingpolycarbonate glazing to cover their headlights. The transition into windowpanels would therefore be a relatively straightforward one. To be used forwindows however, the plastic would need to meet strict scratch resistancerequirements, and must be able to withstand the heat from defrosters in thewinter months. An ultraviolet protection would also be needed to preventingyellowing and clouding over time.For the foreseeable future, these plastic windows would beused largely in fixed and rear windows, along with panoramic sunroofs. Beforethe material can be used for more essential uses like door windows or frontwindscreens, more research, testing, and development is needed to ensure that itcan handle its tasks with the same effectiveness as glass. The crack-proof andshatter-proof qualities of the plastic make is difficult for rescue personnelto reach victims in the event of an accident, as an example.Cost is another roadblock facing production today, as theplastic windows can cost as much as twice that of glass. Upon reaching mass implementationhowever, costs should drop significantly, according to Umamaheswaran. In smallnumbers, materials can be costly to manufacture, but on a large scale,processes can become highly systemized and the cost per window created diminishesgreatly. Ford has also launched a 10,000 hour environmental durability test toexamine the effects of long term use, and if all goes well, polycarbonate glazingcould find its way into your next vehicle.
Plastics,Replacing,Glass,for,N