Solutia Automotive Interlayer Provides Glow to Webasto's Ford F250 Four Seasons Vehicle Displayed at SEMA

The annual event is a showcase for automakers and manufacturers of automotive aftermarket equipment to display custom vehicles and accessories.

"The SEMA show is the candy store of automotive customization," said Victoria M. Holt, Solutia vice president and general manager of the performance films division. "It is the perfect venue for Solutia Automotive to show that glass is not just a commodity anymore, but an integral part of the overall look of a vehicle that can be tailored to the tastes and needs of a specific market segment."

Solutia Automotive supplied its Vanceva(TM) Color interlayer for the vehicle, combined with its Vanceva(TM) brand metallic interlayer, which provides a textured, honeycombed look. The composite interlayer was then sandwiched between two pieces of clear glass supplied by Visteon.

Solutia Automotive's interlayer, a goldish-green in color, is reflective from the exterior of the vehicle due to the metallic interlayer, yet provides unobstructed vision from the interior. Selected by Webasto to add an eye popping design element to the vehicle, the interlayer complements the yellow of the truck bed liner and interior floor boards, while contrasting with the black exterior. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, the Vanceva(TM) interlayer provides all the benefits inherent to laminated glass, including:

Sound reduction -- testing of vehicles with laminated side glass versus tempered has shown a reduction of noise intrusion up to six decibels.

Protection of passengers and interior materials from UV ray penetration

tests by the Australian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency showed a reduction in UV ray penetration of 90 percent using EPG versus 60 percent using ordinary tempered.

Protection from interior heat buildup

Weight reduction -- Laminated glass weighs 11 percent less than comparable tempered glass.

Webasto built the vehicle in cooperation with Bombardier, the Quebec (Canada)-based manufacturer of premium recreational products like personal watercraft and snowmobiles. With four seasons of recreational activity in mind, the vehicle sports special features such as a sliding bed floor to more easily manage up to 1,500 pounds of cargo, a thermo-heater auxiliary heating unit which provides supplemental heat to the vehicle's interior when the engine is shut off, and an E-Z Power Tonno(TM), a power tonneau cover activated by a key fob. Solutia's reflective interlayer also prevents excess interior heat buildup when enjoying summer activities.