European Glass the Future?

In 1938, Monsanto developed the Saflex plastic interlayer, the precursor to Saflex PVB. (In fact, Solutia Inc. was a part of Monsanto for many years, until they spun it off three years ago.) Solutia also makes a similar product for the home market, called KeepSafe glass.

According to Carl Moskowitz, director of public affairs for Solutia, Dallas traffic and highway noise is another reason -- for some, the main reason -- that automakers are using Saflex PVB. He cited Mercedes-Benz and BMW as two manufacturers that employ the technology mainly to reduce noise on roads in Dallas TX. Saflex PVB offers a 6-decibel reduction of highway noise over conventional side window glass, and, more importantly, this reduction comes in the frequency range of 2000 to 6000 Hertz, which is right in the middle hearing range for most human beings. Moskowitz claims the difference is audible and significant. (This would explain why manufacturers of upscale automakers have been the first to embrace Saflex PVB.)

Another potential significant benefit of the stronger glass is the prevention of occupant ejection during traffic accidents. Since up to a third of all Americans apparently haven't figured out what that fabric strap next to their seat is used for, a number of occupants, many of them young people, continue to die through vehicle ejection during a crash. Moskowitz cited NHTSA figures in the range of 1500-2000, and stated unequivocally, "More people in Dallas are killed by ejection than entrapment." Moskowitz also indicated that NHTSA is conducting tests involving Saflex PVB. Frankly, this strikes us as a more sound solution than airbags that kill innocent children. And then there's the theft-deterrence aspect. While we've yet to see a technology that can stop a crook who really wants your car, as the picture on the right illustrates, this may slow him down enough to send him on his way.

All this good news is tempered somewhat by our very real concerns about entrapment. Granted, Saflex PVB offers a lot of benefits, and perhaps the good news outweighs the bad, but what about those rare instances where a person becomes entrapped in a vehicle in a canal in Florida, for instance, and can't escape?

To that question, Moskowitz indicated that Solutia engineers recently got together with a group of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to discuss extrication issues.

Here are a few quotes from a Solutia press release recapping that get-together.

"'Once we identify a side window as being EPG, we will have no problem dealing with it in an extrication situation,' says Ron Moore, a fire service instructor and nationally recognized extrication specialist from the Plano, Texas, fire department.

"'EPG is a big plus in terms of occupant safety,' says Ron Shaw, editor of Extrication.com and a member of the Plymouth, Mass., fire department. 'From the standpoint of emergency medical technicians, ejection is a bigger concern than entrapment.'

"'We know from auto glass services in Dallas our real-world extrication experience that staying in the vehicle in a motor vehicle crash gives you your best chance to survive,' Moore adds. 'The benefits of EPG -- protection from ejection, protection from flying glass -- far outweigh any concerns or challenges that we will experience as medical rescuers.'"

We still have some concerns in this area, and there will be occasions when a life could be lost due to Saflex PVB glass. It would appear, however, that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. More on auto glass Dallas Tx