Technical Paper
Noise Reduction and Sound Quality Improvement with Acoustic Windshield
2008-03-30
2008-36-0507
Windshields, with their low internal damping, are an acoustical weak link in automotive glazing. In the past, acoustically-enhanced glass products were typically achieved by utilizing solid and mass product design elements to increase the glass thickness. This is no longer acceptable as automakers are interested in weight savings, especially as they develop vehicles that are more fuel-efficient. Laminated safety glass, with a standard polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer, is used extensively for automotive windshields and side glazing, and offers improved acoustical performance over tempered glass. However, the standard PVB interlayer is not designed specifically for acoustical and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) purposes. Studies of the parameters affecting acoustical properties and actual noise reduction capability of standard laminated glass led to the development of an acoustical grade PVB interlayer.