Laminated safety glass has commonly been used for many years in bullet resistant, transparent architectural and automotive applications. For armored vehicles, the combination of glass and plastic glazing sheet material represents the majority of the market due to the advantage in weight reduction of the plastic glazing sheet material in comparison with glass. However, the interlayer industry developed over the recent years more advanced and specialized solutions.
This paper provides the basics of ballistic testing, threat and classification levels and gives an overview about the major test standards. In addition, it explains the systematic approach to develop a better understanding of the ballistic function and meaning of each component within laminated safety glass. Different interlayer types and materials have been investigated with regards to their capability for ballistics. Furthermore, optimal material usage has been studied to provide guidance for the further optimization of laminated safety glass constructions. Overall, the paper summarizes key learnings as outcome from far more than a couple of dozen tests on laminated safety glass as well as on “pure” interlayers, performed at a well-established third-party lab, specialized in ballistic testing.