Lets understand Tesla Armor Glass patent and Cybertruck durability secret | What is The Tesla Cybertruck Armor Glass?
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 | Chimniii Desk
Key Highlights
- Tesla filed several patents related to the Cybertruck, one of which is for the "bulletproof" Armor Glass that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has mentioned several times.
- The Cybertruck does not appear to be the only vehicle to incorporate the glass, as another illustration within the patent depicts a sedan.
- Are you sure you want your truck to be bulletproof? What is The Tesla Cybertruck's Armor Glass? Elon Musk termed it as a transparent metal.
- It is significantly more resistant to breakage than regular glass.
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Tesla filed several patents related to the Cybertruck, one of which is for the "bulletproof" Armor Glass that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has mentioned several times. The Cybertruck's durability has long been one of its most infamous characteristics. The patent details the multi-layered design that Tesla will incorporate into several of its vehicles to prevent owners from having to spend a fortune on new windshields or windows following a scratch, crack, or chip.
Perhaps the most memorable moment from the November 2019 Cybertruck event was when Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen hurled a metal ball at the Cybertruck's driver's door glass after slamming the stainless steel exoskeleton shut with a sledgehammer. After claiming that the glass was strong enough to withstand multiple blows without shattering, the window did shatter, leaving the signature broken spheres imprinted on the minds of everyone who witnessed the event.
Elon Musk stated that Franz's initial sledgehammer strikes weakened the glass's base, allowing the steel balls to easily break it. Musk later demonstrated that the windows were indeed extremely durable by releasing a video of Franz hurling the same metal balls at the glass moments before the Cybertruck was unveiled on stage. Now, the patent details Tesla's process for developing durable and nearly indestructible automobile glass.
According to the patent, the combination of the "multi-layer glass stack" has a roughly 10% failure rate when subjected to a 2 J impact.
Tesla's multi-layer glass stack is composed of the following layers: an inner-facing layer that has been chemically strengthened for increased strength and flexibility; and an outer-facing layer that has been chemically strengthened for increased strength and flexibility. It is between.5 and 1.1 millimetres thick and is joined to an energy-absorbing outer layer by an adhesive interlayer. The outer layer is composed of "non-soda lime, low-CTE, high densification glass" that ranges in thickness from 2 to 5 millimetres. The two layers are then attached using an energy-absorbing adhesive. The outer layer is borosilicate, a glass with a low melting point composed of silica and boric oxide that is more resistant to thermal shock than any other common glass.
Tesla placed a premium on developing an extremely durable automotive glass that could withstand normal road conditions and remain damage-free during operation. According to the patent, automotive glass is typically chipped, cracked, or broken without much external force; even something as small as a pebble launched into the air by another vehicle can cause enough damage to warrant replacing the entire windshield. Tesla desired to avoid this due to the high cost and difficulty of replacing windshields.
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Credit: US Patent Office
Indeed, in some embodiments, the external-facing layer is capable of resisting crack initiation and propagation, making it durable in the event of a collision or if a foul ball happens to hit some glass during your child's little league game. The Cybertruck does not appear to be the only vehicle to incorporate the glass, as another illustration within the patent depicts a sedan.
When Musk joined Jay Leno for a Cybertruck ride on MSNBC's Jay Leno's Garage a year ago today, the former late-night television host questioned Musk about why anyone would want bulletproof, armoured glass on their truck.
"Because it's badass and super cool," Musk responded quickly. "Are you sure you want your truck to be bulletproof?"
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What is The Tesla Cybertruck's Armor Glass After All?
Elon Musk termed it as a transparent metal. At the unveiling night, it was even written on one of the screens behind him and the Cybertruck. We have an intriguing explanation for what it is:
There is a ceramic material that contains aluminium. Aluminum oxynitride is the chemical compound. Surmet sells it under the brand name Alon, which is also known as "transparent aluminium." Coincidence? It is significantly more resistant to breakage than regular glass.
Ferrell demonstrates several takes of a brief comparison video between a 1.6-inch Alon Armor bulletproof glass and a standard 3.7-inch Surmet bulletproof glass. The Alon compound is thinner and does not permit passage of a 50 calibre bullet, whereas the regular compound does. In other words, while it may falter, it perseveres. Alternatively, is it Elon? Elon, Alon... You've made your point.
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Take a look at the full Surmet video embedded below.
The primary disadvantage of Alon is its high manufacturing cost. Elon, according to Ferrell's theory, must be researching a way to make Alon more affordable. If this is the purpose of the Tesla Armor, it represents yet another innovation. We'll have to wait and see what Tesla has to say about that.
Here is the complete patent for Tesla's Armored Glass: Tesla Cybertruck Armored Glass
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