What is Gorilla Glass Windshield? Is It a Cure Against Cracks and Chips?
Written by Nino
August 11, 2022
Auto Glass Knowledge
If you’re like most drivers, the thought of a chip or crack in your windshield sends shivers down your spine. And if those cracks get big enough, they can become a safety hazard.
But what if we told you there’s a type of windshield glass virtually impervious to chips and cracks? It’s called Gorilla Glass, and more and more carmakers are starting to use it in their vehicles.
So what is Gorilla Glass windshield, and why is it so tough? Keep reading to find out.
Use this table of contents for easy navigation through the article
> What is Gorilla Glass
> Brief history of Corning Inc. and Gorilla Glass
> How Gorilla Glass is Made
> How Gorilla Glass Windshields are Made
> Pros and Cons of Gorilla Glass Windshield
> Can You Buy Gorilla Glass Windshields for Every Car?
> Conclusion
Gorilla Glass is a special type of chemically strengthened glass. The material is highly durable and resistant to scratches, making it an ideal choice for use in car windshields. While the material is more expensive than traditional glass, its benefits make it well worth the cost.
What is Gorilla Glass
Gorilla Glass is a special glass known for being extremely resistant to scratches and other damage. It is often used in high-end devices like smartphones and tablets, as it can help to keep them looking new for longer.
Gorilla Glass is made through a special manufacturing process that produces a stronger and more durable finished product. It is also treated with special chemicals that make it even more resistant to scratches and other damage.
In addition to being used in phones and tablets, Gorilla Glass is sometimes used in other applications where a durable and scratch-resistant material is desired, such as eyeglasses, scientific instruments, and vehicle windshields.
Brief History of Corning Inc. and Gorilla Glass
Corning Incorporated is an American manufacturing company that specializes in glass, ceramics, and related materials.
The company was founded in 1851 by Amory Houghton and has been headquartered in Corning, New York, since its inception. Corning’s primary products include LCD TV panels, optical fiber, and Gorilla Glass (a type of scratch-resistant glass used in mobile phones and other electronic devices).
In addition to its consumer products, Corning also manufactures a variety of materials for industrial and scientific applications.
Corning Gorilla Glass was first developed in the 60s for use in the space program. The company began mass-producing glass for consumer electronics in the early 2000s.
Since then, Corning Gorilla Glass has become ubiquitous in the mobile phone market – it is estimated that more than three billion devices worldwide are equipped with scratch-resistant material.
In 2012, Corning introduced a new version of Gorilla Glass that is said to be twice as strong as its predecessor. The latest iteration of the product is currently being used in various electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
How Gorilla Glass is Made
The glass is made through an ion exchange process, which involves bathing the glass in a molten salt bath. The salt ions then replace the larger sodium ions in the glass, compressing the surface area.
This compression makes the glass more resistant to breakage and gives it enhanced strength and durability.
How Gorilla Glass Windshields Are Made
Gorilla Glass windshields are made of three layers: Gorilla Glass, a plastic adhesive, and soda lime glass.
The Gorilla Glass is the inner layer and is what gives the windshield its strength. The plastic adhesive is used to bond the two pieces of glass together, and the annealed soda lime glass is the outer layer that provides protection from the elements.
The three layers are bonded together using a process called lamination. Lamination is a process where the two pieces of glass are heated, and then pressure is applied to bond them together.
The resulting lightweight laminated hybrid glass is strong and durable and can withstand heavy impacts and extreme conditions.
Pros and Cons of Gorilla Glass Windshields
There are several advantages to using Gorilla Glass in windshields. For one thing, it is much lighter than traditional glass, making the vehicle’s overall weight lighter. It is also much thinner than traditional glass, which can improve fuel economy. In addition, it is resistant to scratches and other damage.
However, there are also some disadvantages.
One downside is that it is significantly more expensive than traditional glass. Additionally, it may be challenging to find a windshield replacement company that stocks Gorilla Glass. However, the benefits of using Gorilla glass may outweigh the disadvantages for some drivers.
Pros:
- Strength and durability;
- Scratch resistance;
- Lighter weight;
- Thinner than regular auto glass.
Cons:
- High price;
- Availability.
Can You Buy Gorilla Glass Windshields for Every Car?
While Gorilla Glass is most commonly associated with smartphones, the strong and durable material is used in various applications. One lesser known use for Gorilla Glass in windshields. In fact, Ford has been using this type of glass for the windshields of its GT supercar for several years.
The benefits of using this technology are numerous. Not only is it significantly lighter than traditional windshield glass, but it’s also far less susceptible to shattering. This makes it an ideal choice for high-performance vehicles like the Ford GT, which need to be as light as possible to achieve their blazing fast speeds.
Ford isn’t the only automaker that’s using Gorilla Glass for windshields as a factory option. Jeep has also started using the material for the windshields of its Wrangler models. Mopar, Chrysler’s parts and accessories division, offer a Gorilla Glass windshield kit for the Jeep Wrangler. McLaren even uses it for the dihedral doors on its 720S supercar!
So while you might not be able to buy a Gorilla Glass windshield for your everyday car just yet, it’s likely only a matter of time before the technology trickles down to more mainstream models.
Conclusion
Gorilla Glass windshields are the most advanced product that Corning Inc. has to offer. It is made with a unique process that results in a very strong and durable glass. There are pros and cons to using Gorilla Glass windshields, but overall they seem to be an excellent option for car owners.
If you are interested in having one on your car, please let us know in the comments below!
Nino
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Gorilla Glass is junk .. I took the advise to get it , well the first windshield didn’t even last 3 months of normal highway and town driving. So I got the so called free replacement well that cost me another 120 dollars on top of the original install and windshield cost of 950 dollars… yeah we are up to well over 100 dollars for a wind shield that once again cracked exactly one year after the replacement…. these wind shields are just expensive junk… you’re better off with that 120 dollar windshield, you can sure as hell buy many of them a year compared to a $793 piece of junk that can’t even make it a full year without breaking..
typo :: I am out over a thousand dollars on a junk windshield …..that 3 months for one and 1 year for the second … not worth the money!!!!!