Glass Repair: Introduction

General Information

Laminated glass screens are composed of two glass panels which are connected by a transparent plastic film. During manufacturing of laminated glass screens, less tension is being built up, resulting in less smaller fragments if damages occur and a better view is guaranteed even if the glass is damaged.

Glass repairs have the following advantages compared to replacements:

Cheaper solution
Time saving procedure
Less environmental impact
Entry of air or water, corrosion, and poor signal for vehicles with windshield antenna can be avoided.

Tinted, heated or vapor depositioned glass screens, windshields with sun shade area and heat-reflecting glass can be repaired. The tint of the plastic film remains.

Damage types

Damage types of laminated glass screens that can be repaired while paying attention to the following conditions:

Fig 1: Bull's eyes (stone impact)

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Fig 2: Star break (stone impact)

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Condition

Cracks coming from the impact site may not be longer than 50 mm.
Cracks may not end in the window seal rubber.

Fig 3: Combination crack (stone impact)

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Condition

Cracks coming from the impact site may not be longer than 50 mm.
Cracks may not end in the window seal rubber.

Fig 4: Daisy crack (stone impact)

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Fig 5: Half moon (stone impact)

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Fig 6: Crack (scratch)

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Condition

Requirement for servicing:

No contamination or humidity must have entered the inner area of the crack.
Cracks with impact site can be serviced.

Cracks without impact site might have resulted due to inner tensions of the material.

Requirements

Fig 7: Impact site

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a -

Ceramic Coating

A -

Repair Area

B -

Field of Vision

1 -

Windows

Condition

Glass -1- can be repaired, if damage to the outside and inside is not at the same location.
The impact site must be within the repair area -A-.

The field of vision -B- correspond to a line centered to the steering wheel center point, which is limited at the top and bottom by the windshield wiper area.

Fig 8: Dimension

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Condition

The diameter -a- of the impact site must be less than or equal 5 mm.

If the impact site is greater, then vacuum or pressure cycles cannot be performed properly.

The greater the impact site, the greater the optical marks after the repair can be.

Condition

The inner area of the repair site must be tested for vision.
Customers must be informed of negative effects of the glass repair. If a glass repair is not possible, customers must be informed of the reasons for this.

Contamination:

Condition

If present contaminations are not removed, then these contaminations can still be visible after the glass repair.

Moisture:

Condition

To determine moisture in the inside area, the damage must be inspected from all possible angles.
If a dark area changes into a brighter area if the angle of view is changed, then moisture may be on the inside of the damage.
A glass repair may only be performed if the moisture has been removed.

Discoloration:

Condition

Liquids, such as windshield washer fluid concentrate or acid rain may react with the plastic film in the repair area, resulting in creating a shadow effect (mostly blue). Shadows may be visible after the repair.

Delamination:

Delamination describes the separation of the glass from the plastic foil, due to the impact.

Delamination is characterized by very bright spots in the damage area.

Condition

Only damage which did not impair the inner plastic film may be repaired.

If the foil compresses or deforms during the repair, then dark spots will be visible after the repair.