Lightening the load
In response to regulatory and consumer demand for greater fuel efficiency, automotive makers rely on every opportunity to reduce overall vehicle weight. Saflex Q Series helps reduce the negative trade-offs of typical weight reduction efforts by enabling improved acoustics, even in thinner glass configurations.
Saflex Q Series enables improved acoustics in when paired with thin glass. This solves the weight issue. For a typical windscreen, the reduction of glass thickness from 2.1/2.1 mm to 2.1/1.6 mm would result in a weight savings of 1.7 kg (3.7 lbs) or 11%. In a standard windshield, this would result in an acoustic performance loss of 0.6 dB over the full frequency range (200 – 10,000 Hz). However, when Saflex Q interlayers are used in the thinner configuration, the weight reduction can be achieved while still improving acoustic dampening over the standard windshield by 1.2 dB over the same frequency range.
The addition of acoustic front side glass (2.1/2.1 mm) can enable a further reduction of 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs) while improving sound transmission loss through the side windows by 3.3 dB versus 5 mm tempered glass. Across all glazing positions, Saflex technology allows automakers to use thinner glass without sacrificing cabin comfort.
Lightweighting also helps auto manufacturers meet global environment regulations for lower CO2 emissions, including the Kyoto Protocol, the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), and U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
Avoids Retooling Costs
Typical weight reduction solutions can require expensive retooling. Automotive glazing made with Saflex Q Series can be substituted into a vehicle’s existing glass with no need for expensive redesign, retooling, or research and development.
