What type of glass is typically used in automotive safety applications?

Laminated safety glass is the appropriate choice for automotive safety applications because it is specifically designed to enhance passenger protection during accidents. This type of glass consists of two layers of glass with a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) sandwiched in between. The laminated structure means that if the glass is shattered, the broken pieces adhere to the PVB layer rather than falling out of the frame, thereby reducing the risk of injury from glass shards.

The use of laminated safety glass is especially prevalent in windshields, where maintaining structural integrity and passenger safety is critical. In contrast to other glass types like single-pane glass, which can easily shatter and pose serious injury risks, laminated glass contributes to the overall safety of the vehicle by preventing ejection of occupants and minimizing the risk from sharp glass fragments.

While tempered glass, another common choice in automotive applications, is known for its strength and ability to break into small, blunt pieces, it does not provide the same level of adhesive properties that laminated glass does in terms of keeping glass intact in a collision. Hence, laminated safety glass is prioritized for its enhanced protective features in automotive design.