Bullet Resistant Glazings for Automotive Vehicles

C. W. G. Hall; R. A. Harper; J. P. Snelling

doi:10.4271/982318

1998-09-29

Bullet Resistant Glazings for Automotive Vehicles 982318

Bullet Resistant Glazings products for the automotive vehicle armouring industry have been available for more than 25 years.

The key design tasks have been to develop the required ballistic protection level at the minimum possible weight. This is particularly important in automotive vehicular applications to minimise the re-engineering of the basic structure. Equally important has been the development of products that exhibit “zero spalling”, or particle projection, off the inside surface under ballistic impact.

These requirements have been met using a range of glass/polycarbonate composite glazings designs that combine the long established chemical and abrasion resistance of glass with the superb energy absorbing properties of polycarbonate to provide a true zero spall performance.

The exposed surface of the polycarbonate anti-spall ply has to be protected by a specially developed surface coating that provides excellent scratch, abrasion and chemical resistance to the polycarbonate ensuring adequate in-service life.

The glazings can be manufactured in flat or curved configurations to suit most vehicle applications. To facilitate installation, the edges of a window can be made stepped or rebated as required.

Further technical enhancements are available, including sun shade banding, coloured screen printing and “dot fade out” artwork, active ‘hotlines’ and antennae to replicate the standard vehicle's appearance. In cases where opening windows are required, fully polished edges can be provided for all exposed surfaces.

The range of possible threat levels in terms of weapons, ammunition, number and location of shots is near infinite. Various national and international standards have minimised this by defining specific risk categories, which has led to a range of products that will cover all the standard threat levels.

All new requirements have to go through a number of stages, design, tooling, development, qualification testing, manufacture, quality control, inspection, before finally being released to the customer.

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Bullet Resistant Glazings for Automotive Vehicles 982318

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