ABSTRACT
Windshield bonding adhesives have evolved over the years from simple water-leakage sealants to products that can contribute 10-500Jo of the tortional rigidity of the automobile. Cocozzoli (4381) wrote a General Motors' description of the change from polysulfide sealants to moisture-curable polyurethanes based on the application of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). According to Sermolins (4382), this has resulted in being able to remove 8-10 lb (3.5-4.5 kg) of metal from the A pillar and headers in some models, whereas preserving an extra margin of safety against roof crush requirements found in FMVSS 216. Sermolin also discusses the application of new highviscosity "pumpable tape" adhesives for this windshield bonding. As might be expected, there is a great challenge to find an adhesive that would have universal adhesion to the vast array of different paint systems that can be present in today's automobiles. Kirby (4383) has discussed the use of ceramic frits on the windshield to protect the windshield adhesive from UV degradation, diminishing the need for the typical so-called "blackout" primer which had hitherto been used to affect such protection. In 1990, Zabel and Pfeiffer (4384) described a new one-component polyurethane with high initial strength that had been used in Europe to bond automotive glass without the need for a primer.
