Pre-fractured glass composites and laminates with impact resistance and methods of making the same

A pre-fractured glass laminate, comprising:

• a glass substrate comprising a thickness, a pair of opposed primary surfaces, a compressive stress region, a central tension (CT) region, and a plurality of cracks;
• a polymer or a cured resin within the plurality of cracks;
• a backing layer;
• and
• an interlayer disposed between one of the primary surfaces of the substrate and the backing layer,
• wherein the compressive stress region extends from each of the primary surfaces to a first selected depth in the substrate, the plurality of cracks is located in the CT region, a majority of the plurality of cracks do not extend to the primary surfaces, and the compressive stress region and the first selected depth are defined by an ion exchange or a thermal tempering process.

A pre-fractured glass laminate, comprising:

• a first glass substrate comprising a thickness, a pair of opposed primary surfaces, a compressive stress region, a central tension (CT) region, and a plurality of cracks;
• a second glass substrate comprising a thickness, a pair of opposed primary surfaces, a compressive stress region, a central tension (CT) region, and a plurality of cracks;
• a polymer or a cured resin within the plurality of cracks in the first and second glass substrates;
• and
• an interlayer disposed between the first and second glass substrates,
• wherein the compressive stress region extends from each of the primary surfaces to a first selected depth in the substrate, the plurality of cracks is located in the CT region, a majority of the plurality of cracks in the first glass substrate do not extend to the primary surfaces of the first glass substrate, and the compressive stress region and the first selected depth are defined by an ion exchange or a thermal tempering process.

A window panel for a vehicle, comprising:

• a frame coupled to the vehicle;
• and
• a laminate positioned within the frame, the laminate comprising:
• a first, second, and third glass substrate, each substrate comprising a thickness;
• a pair of opposed primary surfaces, a compressive stress region, a central tension (CT) region, and a plurality of cracks;
• a polymer or a cured resin within the plurality of cracks in the first, second, and third glass substrates;
• a first interlayer disposed between the first and second glass substrates;
• and
• a second interlayer disposed between the second and third glass substrates,
• wherein the compressive stress region extends from each of the primary surfaces to a first selected depth in the substrate, the plurality of cracks is located in the CT region of each of the substrates, a majority of the plurality of cracks in the first glass substrate do not extend to the primary surfaces of the first glass substrate, and the compressive stress region and the first selected depth are defined by an ion exchange or a thermal tempering process.

A method of making a pre-fractured glass laminate, comprising:

• laminating a glass substrate to a backing layer with an interlayer disposed between the substrate and the backing layer, the glass substrate comprising a thickness, a pair of opposed primary surfaces, a compressive stress region, and a central tension (CT) region;
• immersing the laminated substrate, backing layer, and interlayer into a bath of a curable resin or a polymer;
• generating a plurality of cracks within the CT region of the glass substrate;
• infiltrating the curable resin or the polymer into the plurality of cracks within the CT region of the glass substrate;
• and
• curing the curable resin or the polymer within the plurality of cracks to form a pre-fractured glass laminate, a majority of the plurality of cracks do not extend to the primary surfaces, and the compressive stress region and the first selected depth are defined by an ion exchange or a thermal tempering process.