A - Post

The front pillar on a vehicle which carries the front door hinges

Adhesion

The state in which two surfaces are held together by a sealant/adhesive

Adhesive

A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment

Aperture Flange

A flange used to weld inner and outer panels together and used as a fixing position for glass replacement

ARGIC Code

Automotive Replacement Glass Identifications Code. A European coding system designed to identify replacement glasses and related spares for cars, vans and trucks available in Europe

Back Fill

Application of sealant into an existing bond line between glass and body

Backlight

Rear facing glass on a saloon car. If appropriate, sometimes known as Heated Rear Window (HRW)

Bead

Sealant/adhesive extrusion application

Bead Uniformity

Even application of sealant/adhesive

Body Glass

Any glazing unit fitted to a vehicle, but usually side facing

Bonding

Adhesive bonding, sticking or gluing between two surfaces. (See Direct Glaze and Structural Bonding)

Bottom Channel

Attached to the bottom of a drop glass and the winder mechanism

Butyl Tape

A pre-formed extruded cold tape supplied in a flat coil. The tape is applied to the aperture, then the glass applied to the tape with pressure. Butyl tape is a non-curing composition of good adherence, but with low structural strength properties. Use has been discontinued in new standard production vehicles.

Bulls Eye

One result of stone impact damage to a laminated windscreen

Ceramic Band

Black ink fired at high temperature onto a glass surface during manufacture to obscure adhesive bead line and protect the adhesive from UV degradation

Chemical Activator or Catalyst

A substance which speeds up the cure of an adhesive when added.

Cheese Wire

High tensile wire used to cut through the adhesive between glass and body

Claytonrite

A rubber profile with a locking strip to secure glass to an aperture

Cohesion

The ability of the body of an adhesive to hold itself together

Condensation

Formation of moisture on a cold surface once heat is introduced

Corrosion

A reddish coating formed on steel by oxidation (by moisture) resulting in breakdown of molecular structure

Cullet

Waste glass. Clean and free from contamination

Cure Time

Period of time required for an adhesive to set at a given temperature

Cut-Out

The removal of a direct glazed glass

Cut-Back

To trim off excess adhesive to allow a minimum left for re-glazing

Degradation UV

The breakdown of a chemical bond due to ultra violet wave transmission

Delaminate

In laminated glass, the breakdown of adhesion between glass and interlayer

Direct Glaze

Glazing unit bonded directly to vehicle body by means of a chemical adhesive

Door Glass Channel

Shaped metal channel to assist alignment of door glass. The glass can be fitted to the channel in several ways: channel lined with felt or rubber; glass bonded into channel; glass bolted to channel

Drip Moulding

Finisher fitted over the channel between roof and the top of the door

Drive Away Time

The minimum amount of time that a vehicle can be driven safely after the installation of a direct glazed unit.

E numbers

Country of origin to EC R43 approval, EG (E.11 - United Kingdom)

Edge Work

The finishing of cut glass:

Arris - for glass enclosed in frame or rubber surround

Polish - for glass that is handled, e.g. door glasses

Environment

Temperature and weather conditions of the work station surroundings

Extrusion

The forcing out of a sealant through a shaped nozzle

Felt Applicator

Wire and felt device for applying primers and pre-cleaners

Filler Strip

A rubber or plastic strip fitted after glass installation to keep the glass in place and form a weathertight seal. (See Clayton Wright)

Glass Flaking

Caused by insufficient lubricant during the laminated glass cutting process

Glass Marking

All safety glass must be marked to conform to mandatory legislation

Glass Repair

Glass repair is used to prevent small impact damage by flying stones, etc from spreading to major damage in a laminated windscreen. When the glass is repaired (usually the outer layer) with a system of special equipment and chemical resins, it forms a permanent and durable repair, which is as safe and optically correct as the original glass.

Grommet

A solid rubber ring used to blank off a hole or a rubber ring with a hole for passing auto electrical wires through body section without chafing

Hazing

Natural 'wear and tear' of the surface by constant use of a windscreen. Badly hazed windscreens can impair visibility in night driving

Headlining

A covering fitted to the interior of a vehicle. It can be of solid, backed material suspended, fabric material.

Humidity

The degree of moisture in the air

Hygroscopic

The ability to absorb moisture from the air

HPR

High Penetration Resistant. Refers to Polyvinyl Butyral thickness

Indirect Glazing

A glazing system which uses a rubber gasket to retain the glass in the aperture

Infra-Red

Radiation waves which contribute to the heat build up in vehicles. Solar control and tinted glass reduces this condition

Interlayer

See Polyvinyl Butyral

Kerb Light

A window fitted to the lower front of the cab of a commercial vehicle to increase driver visibility

Kite Mark

The official mark of the British Standards Institution

Laminated Glass

A single component comprising of two panels of glass bonded together with a plastic interlayer - 3 ply. Can also be 5 ply, 3 panes, 2 interlayers

Leak Detector

A device that when it is enclosed in the vehicle will emit ultra sonic waves through areas that are not watertight thus enable leaks to be detected

Light Transmission

The percentage of actual light that is transmitted through a glazing material

Lip Rubber

A moulded rubber shape designed to retain the glass in indirect glazing. (See Indirect Glazing)

Mirror Patch

A block of ceramic patch that masks the adhesive and blocks UV

Mirror Pad

Double sided adhesive pad which is used to attach rear view (interior) mirrors

Mirror Boss

Metal locking base attached to windscreen which connects to interior rear view mirror.

Mix Ratio

The proportion of components in a two part adhesive system to give optimum cure rates

Moisture Cure

An adhesive that cures by reacting with moisture in the air.

Mouldings

Metal or plastic finishers for cosmetic or masking requirements.

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer, i.e. vehicle manufacturer

Obscuration Band

A black ceramic band used to obscure unsightly areas and for cosmetic appeal also to protect from UV.

Polyurethane

An adhesive sealant can be single component (moisture curing) or double component (chemical curing). Also known as Urethane and PU

Polyvinyl Butyral

A tough plastic material that is opaque until processed when it is completely transparent, used in laminated glass, variable colour and thickness

Primers

A surface treatment to promote adhesion of adhesives and sealants

PSV

Public Service Vehicle, e.g. bus/coach

Quarterlight

A side glass fitted to a vehicle quarter panel, can be opening or fixed.

Relative Humidity

The proportion of moisture to the value for saturation at the same temperature

Sagging

A deformation (downward movement) of a standard bead of adhesive or sealant between application and setting time

Score

A term used in flat laminated glass cutting to describe the mark left on the glass by the cutter

Scuttle

The metal or plastic panel immediately below a vehicle windscreen

Security Glass

Laminated glass composed of 2 or more sheets of glass with an interlayer of 1.5mm between the sheets

Shard

A sharp piece or fragment of glass

Shelf Life

The time of storage under certain conditions which a product is expected to retain its working and performance properties

Shell

A small flake of glass dislodged by impact damage, usually to glass edges

Shaded (top band) Glass

Usually a laminated windscreen glass where the top portion is of a darker colour to improve drive visibility in glare.

Spacer Blocks

Small rubber or plastic blocks used to install glass to the correct position in aperture.

Standards Symbol

Certification mark applied to safety glass, varies with country

Stress Crack

A crack or fracture in glass caused by improper installation or by a fault in manufacture

Structural Bonding

The name given to a bond where it forms a joint that performs a load bearing function

Substrate

A material's surface to which a prime or adhesive is applied for bonding purposes

Sunroof

A panel of safety glass, metal or plastic fitted to a speciality manufactured or processed section of the vehicle roof

Thermo-Electric Neoprene Tape

A pre-extruded self vulcanising synthetic rubber profile with built in heating wire. After profile is applied to aperture and glass installed, heat is applied to soften profile and glass pressured into place. Heating time by transformer is about 6 minutes at a temperature of 140ºC. Difficult trim removal, lower strength properties than urethanes. Use discontinued in new standard production vehicles.

Tinted Glass

Glass that has had colour added in the manufacturing process or by the introduction of a coloured interlayer in laminated glass. Controls by absorption, infra red transmissions to control heat and reduce glare.

Top Tint

See Shaded Glass

Toughened Glass

Manufactured by a process of heating and rapid cooling. This sets up internal stresses and creates a tough skin which is several times more resistant to mechanical and thermal shock than annealed (ordinary) glass

Translucent

Permitting light to come through glass but diffusing it so objects seen through it are vague, distorted or imperfect

Transparent

Permitting light to come through glass without distortion (See Light Transmission)

UV

Ultra violet high energy natural light waves

Uniform Bead

Sealant or adhesive applied to a surface with a uniform width and appearance

Urethane

See Polyurethane

Vent

A side glass fitted to the door(s) of a vehicle. Can be fixed or opening

VIN

Vehicle Identification Number

Vinyl

See Polyvinyl Butyral

Viscosity

The measurement of a liquid's resistance to flow, e.g. low -water; high - oil

Vision Zones

These zones are determined according to various type approval and standards requirements for front facing glasses

Warranty

Guarantee of workmanship and materials

Water Ingress (Leaks)

The entry of water through an unconventional route

Windscreen

A front facing safety glass of one or more sections, curved or flat, projecting across and above the dashboard section of a vehicle

WHP

Windscreen High Performance (resistant interlayer gives the high performance/resistance)