Automotive Component Testing

Emissions from vehicle trim components (PVC, polyurethane, foam, carpets, adhesives etc.) can adversely affect the vehicle interior air quality (VIAQ) and the health of drivers and passengers. 

To mitigate issues associated with VIAQ, leading automotive manufacturers now specify emission limits for target compounds released from trim materials. 

Target compounds and concentration guidelines have also been specified by various motor associations (JAMA) and labelling organisations (TÜV Rhineland Group). 


Approaches used for evaluating car trim include:

• Direct, low-temperature desorption of a small section of the material (typically 20-50 mg) weighed into an empty sample tube. Used to assess emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and semi-volatiles (SVOC)(fogging compounds). Analysis is by GCMS.
  
  
• Thermal extraction of volatiles and fogging compounds as above but for larger samples (5-10 grammes) using a Markes Micro-Chamber / Thermal Extractor (µ-CTE). In this case vapours sampled onto Tenax^® tubes (VOCs and SVOCs) or DNPH cartridges (formaldehyde) and are subsequent analysis by TD-GCMS or HPLC respectively.
  
  
• Testing surface emissions under controlled conditions (temperature, air change rate, humidity, etc.) using µ-CTE, FLEC, small chambers or large bags. Emitted vapours are collected onto Tenax tubes or DNPH cartridges and analysed as described above.
  
  

Further details regarding approaches, techniques and guidelines for evaluating emissions from automotive trim components can be found in the following publications or upon request. 

Materials emissions specialists from Markes International are also available to discuss your testing requirements and sampling needs.

Thermal Desorption Technical Support literature available 

TDTS 28: Optimising Analytical Performance and Extending the Application Range of Thermal Desorption for Monitoring Air Indoors and Inside Vehicle Cabins 

TDTS 33: Analysis of the interior atmosphere of a saloon car using Thermal Desorption and GCMS 

TDTS 40: Direct desorption of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds from furnishings such as leather or textiles

TDTS 59: Direct desorption of Car Trim Materials for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Semi-volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC) analysis. In accordance with method VDA 278. 

TDTS 65: Automating the measurement of VOCs and Semi-VOCs in building materials and car trim components using direct thermal desorption 

TDTS 67: Using the Micro-Chamber / Thermal Extractor (µ-CTE) to automate materials emissions testing for industrial quality control

TDTS 69: The Micro-Chamber / Thermal Extractor - the innovative, rapid and cost effective approach for testing VOC emissions from materials 

TDTS 73: Summary of peer-reviewed publication: ‘A microscale device for measuring emissions from materials for indoor use’

TDTS 74: Summary of peer-reviewed publication: ‘Emission cells and comparison to small chambers for materials emissions testing’


Useful Links

International Automotive Research Centre-Warwick Manufacturing Group

MIRA- Motor Industry Research Association

Fraunhofer - Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI)

JAMA- Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc.

TÜV Rhineland Group- "Allergy Tested Interior" certification

Ecology Center – “Toxic at any speed” publication 

Eurofins - "Micro-Chamber - an important tool for fast emission testing"

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