tiny black dots on windshield
YouTube: Mobile Glass LLC

Why Are the Edges of Your Windshield Are Covered in Tiny Black Dots?


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Have you ever noticed that dot matrix pattern at the top of some windshields? Most people assume it's just a way to help shade the driver from the sun, but the little black dots actually do so much more.

There's a black band of ceramic paint called a "frit" along the edge of a windshield that helps sealant adhesive stick to the glass. Not only does it keep the elements out, it actually helps the windshield stay in place. When the glass is heated and bent in an industrial oven, the frit heats up and expands.

This creates an optical distortion in the glass, a.k.a. "lensing," and the black dots help spread the sharp thermal gradient between optical glass and frit to minimize and mask the distortion.

Learn more about these curious little dots in the video from YouTube channel Bright Side below.

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Read More: Save 15 Minutes Each Morning By Getting a Windshield Snow Cover

Now that we're on the topic of car windshields, we'd be remiss if we didn't take this time to stress the importance of windshield maintenance and repair. If you find yourself in a situation where your windshield needs some work done, thankfully, Amazon offers plenty of products that will get the job done.

Take the windshield repair kit from Rain-X, for example. This easy-to-use kit repairs all types of laminated windshields, and, thanks to its advanced resin formula, it minimizes the appearance of chips and cracks and stops them from spreading.

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Permatex also offers a windshield repair kit, which also professional quality repairs and makes permanent repairs of bullseye damage up to 1.25" in diameter on most laminated windshield glass. The resin cures by natural sunlight, and the state-of-the-art delivery system comes equipped with an advanced spring-lock feature.

Products featured on Alt_driver are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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This post was originally published on February 28, 2019.