Vehicle components (interior & exterior)

Loading of an emission test chamber
© Fraunhofer IBP
Loading a floor covering into an emission test cell for a test.

Within the scope of material studies and material optimization processes, appropriate techniques such as thermal desorption or thermal extraction are used to analyze raw materials, semi-finished products and small components. These enable the volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted under defined climatic conditions to be identified. Organic emissions from components and entire assemblies (e.g. a set of seats) are determined in so-called SHED chambers (Sealed House Evaporative Determination). In the course of these tests, a large number of chemical substance groups can be identified and their concentration in the air inside the test cell determined, such as VOCs, BTXE aromatics, aldehydes, ketones, phthalates, amines, nitrosamines and glycol ethers. These tests are performed in compliance with DIN ISO and VDA standards, as well as with the standards of European and Asian manufacturing companies.  The measured concentrations can be compared with existing guideline or limit values (e.g. those stated in the Global Automotive Declarable Substance List). This allows a statement to be made about the emission potential of the tested components.