At some point, we’ve all wondered what the heck are these black dots surrounding the windscreen and sometimes even side window panels on every vehicle. Is it some weird design trend or is there an actual purpose to their existence?
As it turns out, these dots jumping out of the black band are called the frit and it’s a very important component of the windshield. The frit is basically a ceramic paint baked into the glass and is there to create a grippier surface to the adhesive, securing that the windscreen will remain attached to your vehicle at all times.
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The black band also serves as a hide spot for the sealant, as it would simply look terrible if the area was left clear showing the glue underneath. The band also protects the sealant from UV radiation on the outside, as the material could be weakened from direct exposure to sunlight over time.
One more purpose
Furthermore, the black dots serve a dual purpose; windshields are basically made in an oven but because the frit band is heating faster than the glass itself, which could lead up to optical distortions, a set of patterned dots is added to help spread the temperature more evenly and avoid the distortion.
Some cars even feature an additional set of patterned dots right behind the rear-view mirror as a means to mildly block the sun in the windshield area typically left uncovered by the sun visors.