TIL that black band around the perimeter of the windshield are called frits and keep it from moving around while the car is in motion

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/black-dots-car-windshield

Without these dots, the glass could become loose and eventually fall out of the frame. These frits are also there for aesthetic purposes.

48 points · 9 comments · view on lemmy.world

9 Comments

naeap@sopuli.xyz · 19 pts · 3y

I thought the transition from pure black to window with dots was made for thermic reasons, so there is not a hard line between hot and cold glass, and with that less stress on the material.

The complete black border is probably for holding it to the glue, I suspect.

SulaymanF@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 3y (3 replies)

“Without these dots, the glass could become loose and eventually fall out of the frame."

How?

mikkL@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 3y (2 replies)

As they write in the article:

the windshield glass in modern cars is bonded to its frame using a strong and long-lasting urethane adhesive.

"This makes the windshield a structural component of the vehicle's body," explained Reina. "The frit is black painted enamel that's baked onto the surface of the glass, and it provides a secure point of contact between the glass, urethane adhesive, and windshield frame."

SulaymanF@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 3y (1 reply)

I also quoted the article. I understand that part and the black stripe, but I don’t understand how the dots help in this.

scutiger@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y

The dots themselves don't do anything, but the black border does. But if you see the dots coming off the glass, it's a sign that the frit around the edge may also have started detaching from the glass.

ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 3y

Afaik the dots are just an aesthetic choice, the black border is functional.

Source: my old oem one had no dots, my new one does, tech said as much

Navarian@lemm.ee · 3 pts · 3y (1 reply)

Huh, that's pretty neat. I always wondered what that was for.

I wonder if it needs to be dots or if other shapes would do just fine and dots were the cheapest in regard to manufacturing.

mikkL@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y

Probably for a smooth transition between the black and the glass. Or maybe both.