Which type of glass used for vehicle windows consists of two sheets of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer between them?

• A. Laminated safety glass
• B. Tempered safety glass
• C. Safety glass
• D. Insulated glass

Answer: (A)

Laminated safety glass is the type used for vehicle windshields. It consists of two sheets of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer between them. That plastic layer—often polyvinyl butyral (PVB)—holds the glass together if the windshield is struck, preventing large shards from penetrating and helping to keep the glass in place to protect occupants.

Tempered safety glass is heat-treated to break into small, dull fragments rather than staying in one piece, which is useful for reducing injury but doesn’t involve a plastic interlayer. Safety glass is a broad term for glass that meets certain safety standards but doesn’t specify the interlayer configuration. Insulated glass has two or more panes separated by an air or gas-filled space for insulation, which isn’t how typical vehicle windshields are built.