The Science Behind The Working Of Bullet Resistant Glass
Sniper's bullets often travel at breakneck speed, so much that we can't even see them coming through. The only way to rescue yourself possibly is by creating a barrier between you and the bullet. This way, the energy with which a bullet is fired gets dissipated in the barrier itself absorbing the complete shock leaving you unharmed. This is the very principle that operates behind the working of bulletproof window glasses.
Aurum Glass is the leading manufacturer of fire resistant and bullet resistant glazing. It is the brand of Aurum Security, who is the leader in the production of armored vehicles. Get in touch for all sorts of bullet resistant glass requirements in armored vehicles, architectural structures or shipbuilding etc.
Normal Glass Windows V/S Bulletproof Glass Windows
When a bullet hits a normal and a bullet-resistant glass window, the results are starkly opposite. Here’s what happens:
A Regular Glass Window: When a raging bullet strike at the normal glass, its firing energy pushes hard against the glass pane, which creates a lot of fissures along the lines where the bullet hits. This impact causes the glass to break into numerous edgy pieces.
Such a strike causes two-way damage:
- First damage is through the bullet, which will shatter the glass. If its energy doesn’t get exhausted at the glass level, it will further pass through and hit another target in its trajectory.
- The second level of damage is more widespread and is caused by the shattered glass called shards. A million pieces of pointed shards will also fly out at high-speed post the impact and pierce hard into any object or human coming in their path. It can prove fatal as well.
Bulletproof Glass Window: It is important to clarify here that no glass can be 100% bulletproof but they do come in varied materials and strengths. Calling them bullet resistant is a more appropriate term here. Bullet-Resistant glazing is manufactured by laminating layers of glass and polyester or polycarbonate. This not only imparts the requisite thickness to the material but interlayering plastic makes it much stronger to bear the impact.
A much tougher quality glass material is used in the production of Bullet resistant glasses. Laminated layer of in-between plastic is used to prevent the spalling effect. Spalling is the splintering effect of shards post impact which is contained to a larger extent by using tougher plastic layers like polycarbonate.
When a bullet hits at a bulletproof glass, the momentum and the energy it is carrying is immediately spread out through the laminated glass layers. Since the energy of the bullet is dissipated between glass and plastic spread over a large area, this leads to the absorbance of shock. Because of plastic, there is next to nil glass splintering effect. The thickness of glass further slows the bullet down so much that now it is no longer able to carry the momentum to pass through and hit the target. As a result of which the damage from the bullet as well as spalling is controlled to a greater extent.
Manufacturing Process Of Bullet Resistant Glazing
Bullet resistant glasses come in varied strengths. Traditionally, it is produced by alternating layers of glass, which can be anywhere between 4-10 mm thick along with the plastic having thickness of 1-3 mm at the most. To impart more strength to the material, better quality plastic layers like acrylic glass, polycarbonate or polyurethane can be used.
Process Guideline:
- The manufacturing process includes the heating and compressing of a PVB layer between high strength thick glasses.
- This process is carried out in Autoclave at the temperature ranging up to 150-degree Celsius. This allows the plastic to melt and eventually bond with the glass on both sides.
- It is highly critical that no air is trapped between the interlocking glass and plastic layers
- Pressure and heat of the Autoclave also need to be at the optimum level in order to ensure the overall material transparency. Any discrepancy may lead to distortions in the final product.
Usage
Bullet-resistant glazing has been in use for as long as we remember in high-risk businesses. Whether it is a jewelry store or a high-end financial institution, having bulletproof glasses as part of the architectural structure is a safety prerequisite. Bulletproof windows have been very much part of armored vehicle industry since inception. Apart from that, due to fire resistance property of this material, ship manufacturing industry is also widely embracing its use.
For further details and purchase queries, visit Aurum Glass, the world leaders in manufacturing and distribution of bullet resistant glazing to suit your requirements.