Invisible wiper, i.e. glass hydrophobization. It works?

More and more car services and car dealerships offer so-called invisible wipers. These are preparations for automobile glasses, which should remove water from them without the use of wipers.

Treatment, in which the windshield is covered with a special preparation - hydrophobization - is a method that has long been known in air transport. The windows in the pilot's cabins are hydrophobized for faster removal of water and snow.

Invisible rug - nanotechnology

Every automotive glass, while appearing smooth, is relatively rough. This can only be seen under a microscope. This is why water, snow and other contaminants linger on the glass surface while driving. Wipers must be used to remove them from the windshield.

However, thanks to nanotechnology, a technique has been developed that uses the structure of microparticles, hydrophobization. This is a general term describing the process of making surfaces or whole structures of materials hydrophobic, i.e. water repellent properties.

See also: defroster or ice scraper? Methods for cleaning windows from snow 

Hydrophobization is carried out in order to prevent the penetration of water deep into the structure of materials. These properties were used, including in the protection of aircraft windows. Then it's time for the auto industry

Hydrophobization or smoothing of the windshield

Hydrophobization consists in applying a nano-coating to the surface of the windshield, which protects it from dirt, and also improves visibility, thereby increasing safety and driving comfort.

As the companies offering such a service explain, the hydrophobic layer evens out the surface of the glass, on which dirt settles. Then it becomes smooth, and the condensation of water and oil liquids on it helps to remove dirt, insects, ice and other contaminants from the windows.

After hydrophobization, a coating is applied to the glass, which reduces the adhesion of dirt and water particles. As the service providers explained, at the correct vehicle speed, rain or snow does not settle on the windows, but flows off the surface almost automatically. This can significantly reduce the need for car wipers and glass cleaners, and also improves visibility in heavier rainfall.

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– Hydrophobized glass gets a coating that reduces the adhesion of dirt and water particles by as much as 70 percent. As a result, even at a speed of 60-70 km/h, precipitation does not settle on the glass, but almost automatically flows off its surface. As a result, the driver uses 60% less washer fluid and uses car wipers less often, says NordGlass' Jarosław Kuczynski.

Glass after hydrophobization is also more frost-resistant. Ice that has settled on the surface of the glass can be scraped off much more easily than ice that has not been coated.

Hydrophobization requires a visit to the service

Applying a hydrophobic coating to glass in a specialized service takes about an hour. However, before doing so, a visual inspection should be carried out to ensure that the windows are not damaged. Each crack or the so-called cross must be removed, since after coating the glass with a preparation, repair is impossible - the agent penetrates into all cracks and depressions.

After removing any damage, the glass is washed, degreased and dried. Only after these treatments, the actual hydrophobization is carried out, i.e. application of a special drug. After a few minutes, when the drug is absorbed into the glass, it is polished.

– Hydrophobizing treatment can be used on both front and side windows. It should only be remembered that after hydrophobization, the use of a car wash should be carried out without wax, emphasizes Jarosław Kuczynski.

Read also How to care for car windows in winter (PHOTOS) 

The service costs an average of PLN 50 per glass. Standardly applied hydrophobic coating retains its properties for a year or up to 15-60 years. kilometers in the case of the windshield and up to XNUMX, XNUMX km on the side windows. After this period, if you still want to use the wipers infrequently, repeat the treatment.

Preparations for the hydrophobization of automotive glass can also be found commercially, mainly on the Internet. The price is from PLN 25 to 60 (capacity 25-30 ml).

Mechanic says

Slavomir Shimchevsky from Slupsk

“I know from customer feedback that hydrophobization is doing its job. As they say, water actually flows from the windshield by itself. But on one condition - the car must drive at a speed of at least 80 km / h, because then there is the necessary air impulse to remove water. So hydrophobization is a good option for drivers who drive a lot outside of settlements. If someone uses the car mainly in the city, then rather a pity.

Wojciech Frölichowski