Safety glass is an important part of the protection concept for various specially secured vehicles. Various types of safety glass are used in police and military vehicles as well as in special armored vehicles. Both toughened safety glass (ESG) and laminated safety glass (VSG) can be used as bullet-proof glass.
Today, however, safety glass often no longer consists of actual glass at all or only in part - polycarbonate or acrylic are now preferred due to their positive properties. Polycarbonate and glass are joined in several layers, with glass on the outside and inside and one or more polycarbonate layers on the inside. The bond is created using special films. Polycarbonate glass is very impact-resistant and lighter than traditional bulletproof glass. This makes polycarbonate glass a preferred material for the windows of armored vehicles.
In comparison, polycarbonate glass can achieve significant thickness advantages with a simultaneous reduction in weight, which means both greater protection and a reduction in the load on the frame construction, such as vehicle doors. The bullet resistance classes for safety glass are regulated in accordance with DIN EN 1063, while those for explosives and blast resistance are regulated in accordance with DIN EN 13541. Safety glass with polycarbonate content increases occupant protection in vehicles, as it offers valuable ballistic protection and complements the vehicle armoring.
Acrylic glass, on the other hand, is often used for underwater applications involving high pressure. These panes are only made of plastic and do not contain any traditional silicate glass.
