FCA LP-463KC-09-01 Odor Evaluation of Interior Trim Materials

The standard “LP-463KC-09-01 Odor evaluation of interior trim materials”, developed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), an Italian-American automotive company, describes a test method for odor evaluation of materials or material assemblies.

The purpose of this standard is to measure and evaluate the odor characteristics of materials used in the interior of vehicles. The presence of unpleasant odors can significantly affect the perceived quality of a vehicle and the comfort of its occupants. Therefore, this standard provides a method for evaluating the intensity and nature of odors emitted by automotive interior materials under specified conditions.

Samples of interior furnishing materials are prepared and conditioned at a specific temperature to promote the release of volatile compounds that may contribute to odor. Odor evaluations are typically performed in a controlled environment by trained panelists or odor experts. A scale defined by the standard is typically used to rate odors from imperceptible to extremely strong, and the odor intensity and character of the material samples are evaluated.

Once the panelists’ results are collected, they are analyzed to determine the overall odor characteristics of the material. This may include calculating average scores for intensity and determining any specific odor descriptors applied to the material.

Essentially the purpose of this test includes:

• Material selection: Helps manufacturers select interior materials that meet specific odor criteria, ensuring new vehicles have a pleasant or neutral odor.
• Quality assurance: A critical part of the quality assurance process for vehicle interiors is ensuring that materials do not compromise passenger comfort due to strong or unpleasant odors.
• Product development: Provides valuable feedback for the development of new materials and processes aimed at reducing or eliminating unpleasant odors.

The sources of odors released from vehicle interiors are diverse. For example, leather may contain some deteriorated residues from proteins, natural oils and impurities from chemicals used in the leather-making process. These substances can be released into the vehicle and perceived as unpleasant odors.

The following substances in the leather material are considered problematic and cause unpleasant odors in the vehicle interior:

• Amines: Protein degradation during beam preservation and wastewater recycling
• Aldehydes: From the oxidative decomposition of natural oils and low quality oils.
• Thio compounds: Trace levels from ligand preservation, protein degradation, and certain biocides

Also, the interior of a new car is almost entirely made of plastic, leather, or fabric. These parts are held together with sealants and adhesives. These contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are the primary source of odor. These compounds tend to fill an enclosed space over time, creating a mixture of odors. This is what the new car smell consists of. Typically, this odor is in the air in the car at a concentration of 20-40 mg/m3, and prolonged exposure can be harmful. However, adhesives, paints, plastics, and fabrics are important components of what makes a car come together, and it is impossible to completely avoid the fumes. However, some car manufacturers have limits on the amount of VOCs that are considered safe in a new car.

Automotive manufacturing is one of the potential sources of air pollution, especially volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The manufacturing processes consist of casting and molding, powertrain, stamping, body in white, resin and paint, final assembly and final inspection. In this industry, large quantities of different chemicals are used, especially in the resin and painting section. For example, it has been found that more than 95 percent of the chemicals are used in this process. In the painting stage, metal vehicle bodies are washed with a solution and prepared to enter the paint coating process using phosphating agents. They are then sent to the spraying processes, starting with primer, base coat and clear coat before being subjected to final processing. Most of the VOC emissions come from spraying activities, which account for approximately 85 percent of the total VOC emissions. In the automotive industry, especially for spraying activities, odor volatile organic compounds have been found to be the main compounds of the total VOCs.

Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its wide range of testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies for years, has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. In this context, testing services in accordance with the "FCA LP-463KC-09-01 Odor evaluation of interior furnishing materials" standard are also provided to businesses.