Motorists are often intrigued by the myriad of features in their vehicles, and now there’s a fresh revelation that’s catching drivers’ attention.
Those seemingly decorative little black dots on your car windscreen are not just for show; they serve a crucial function.
Car enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike are constantly discovering new aspects of their vehicles, from quick defrosting buttons to clever gadgets that prevent dazzling high beams – and the learning never stops.
The latest automotive insight to pique drivers’ interest is the real purpose behind the small black dots adorning the edges of car windscreens, known as “frits” or dot matrices.
These dots, often found alongside a solid black band encircling the glass, aren’t merely aesthetic.
Specialists at Autoglaze have shed light on the matter, revealing that these “underrated” dots play a significant role in temperature regulation, helping to reduce optical distortion, also known as 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,” the specialist said.
Thus, these dots are instrumental in mitigating this effect, ensuring that drivers have a clear and undistorted view through their windscreen by “dissipating the heat and spreading it out evenly”.
Max Auto Glass elaborated on the purpose of these black dots, stating: “It provides a rougher surface for the adhesive sealant to stick to since this part of the windshield is the contact point between the glass and the vehicle’s frame.
“This helps ensure that the adhesive can form a strong bond all the way around the windshield to properly hold it in place.”
In addition, both experts disclosed that the frit serves a cosmetic function, establishing a “visual barrier”.
Consequently, the sight of the adhesive along the vehicle’s frame is obscured by the black enamel and dots, producing a finished look that seems far more “polished”.
