Most drivers will get in their car each day without taking much notice of what is inside it, but it appears that there is something that we should all know about our car windscreens.
Despite looking through our windscreens during every drive, you may or may not have noticed that there are several little black dots that run around the edge of the glass, and it turns out that there is a clever reason behind these.
One driver took to Reddit to question the cause behind them, and ever since getting an answer, many drivers have been shocked to discover the true meaning of what these small dots are actually there for.
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Wondering why they are there, one Reddit user asked: "What are those little black dots that surround my windshield for?", reports The Mirror.
It turns out that without them, driving your car would actually be extremely dangerous as they actually serve a very important purpose.
A statement from Autoglass says: "These dots are actually called frits. A frit is a painted black enamel that’s baked around the borders of a windscreen during the manufacturing process.
"They are seen on windscreens and other parts of your car’s glass windows. And believe it or not, they actually serve four main purposes."
The site then listed each reason behind the little dots.
"They serve as a contact point between the glass and car frame. They create “etches” on the surface, making them rougher so the adhesive can stick better to the glass," it said.
"They help preserve the urethane sealant used to bond the glass to the frame. They use the black enamel outside the windshield to block the sun’s ultraviolet rays from melting the adhesive underneath the band. This keeps the windows firmly glued in their place."
Autoglass added: "The black dots, or “dot matrix” actually help distribute temperature evenly to lessen optical distortion or “lensing”.
"This happens when the frit band (the solid black one) heats up much faster than the windscreen’s glass, creating an optical distortion that makes either straight lines look curved or bowed inwards toward the centre. Those “gradually sinking” black dots help lessen this phenomenon by dissipating the heat and spreading it out evenly.
"Frits are also there for aesthetic purposes. If you look closely, the contrast between the dark band and the transparent glass can look too obvious even when viewed from afar. Creating a halftone pattern or “dot-matrix” allows a gradual decrease in size, making the transition much more subtle and easier on the eyes."
Commenting on the revelation, one Reddit user said: " That is brilliant and simple. So simple that it isn’t believable but so believable that it can’t be that simple!"
A second user said: "I am stunned at the amount that I have learned about frit today."
Another user added: "Ok, that makes sense. But why is it on the windshield, rear windshield, and quarter glass, but not on the operable windows?"
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