GME 60292-2 Determination of Color Fastness and Resistance to Artificial Light (Coding 2, 100 Degrees)

GME 60292-2 Determination of Color Fastness and Resistance to Artificial Light (Coding 2: 100 Degrees)

Developed by General Motors Europe (GME), the “GME 60292-2 Color Fastness and Resistance to Artificial Light (Coding 2:100 degrees)” standard is a materials testing standard used to evaluate the color fastness and resistance to artificial light and high temperatures of automotive interior materials. This standard is specifically designed to assess how paints, pigments, coatings, and printed surfaces retain their original appearance after prolonged exposure to simulated sunlight produced by a xenon arc lamp.

The designation “60292-2” refers to “Coding 2: 100 degrees,” one of the exposure conditions defined within the GME 60292 family of standards. It exposes test specimens to a maximum black standard temperature of 100 degrees, representing the severe thermal conditions that can occur inside vehicle interiors parked in direct sunlight.

Vehicle interiors are constantly exposed to sunlight, heat, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These environmental factors can cause the following:

• Color fading
• yellowing
• Loss of brightness
• Pigment degradation
• Surface discoloration
• Changes in visual appearance

The GME 60292-2 standard provides a standardized laboratory procedure for measuring these effects, allowing manufacturers to compare materials under the same conditions and verify long-term durability.

This standard applies to numerous automotive interior materials, including:

• Textile fabrics
• Leather and artificial leather
• Plastic trim components
• Decorative films
• Painted plastic parts
• Wood coatings
• Cardboard and corrugated cardboard
• Interior linings
• Printed decorative surfaces

The described test method evaluates the following using xenon arc weather resistance testing equipment that simulates natural daylight:

• Color fastness to artificial light.
• Resistance to the combined effects of light and heat.

This test recreates years of indoor sunlight exposure in a controlled laboratory setting.

The test generally follows these steps:

• A xenon arc is placed in a weather exposure chamber.
• It is exposed to artificial daylight with a controlled spectral distribution.
• They are simultaneously exposed to high temperatures.
• After the required exposure time, it is compared with unexposed control samples.

Unlike outdoor weather exposure, laboratory exposure offers excellent reproducibility and allows for direct comparison of different materials.

The GME 60292 standard includes different exposure conditions for various material applications. “Coding 2: 100 degrees” specifies the following:

• Black Standard Temperature (BST): 100 degrees
• Xenon arc light source
• Controlled irradiation
• Controlled environmental conditions

A standard black temperature of 100 degrees represents one of the more demanding interior aging conditions, designed to simulate the high temperatures reached by instrument panels, luggage racks, and other dark-colored interior components exposed to intense sunlight.

Typical test equipment includes:

Xenon arc aging chamber

• Daylight optical filters
• Black standard thermometer
• Irradiation tracking system
• Sample holders
• Gray scales or color measuring devices (spectrophotometers)
• Environmental control system

The general procedure includes these steps:

• Preparation of representative test specimens.
• Sample conditioning before testing.
• Assembling the samples together with the reference materials.
• Samples are exposed to xenon arc radiation.
• Maintaining the specified black standard temperature of 100 degrees.
• Completion of the specified exposure time or radiation energy.
• Evaluation of color change.
• Recording any visual distortions.

According to the GME 60292-2 standard, performance can be evaluated using the following methods:

• Visual assessment: Observers compare exposed and unexposed samples using standardized grayscale scales.
• Instrumental color measurement: Spectrophotometers measure changes in color coordinates such as:
  • L*
  • a*
  • b*

Overall color difference is usually expressed as: ΔE*

Instrumental evaluation provides higher repeatability compared to visual inspection.

• Typical failure modes: After testing, the materials may exhibit the following:
  • Color fading
  • Dawning
  • yellowing
  • Darkening
  • Chalking on the surface
  • Reduced brightness
  • Pigment instability
  • Irregular color distortion
  • Print distortion

Vehicle interiors are expected to maintain their appearance for many years despite constant exposure to sunlight. If adequate lightfastness testing is not performed, manufacturers may encounter the following problems:

• Customer complaints
• Warranty claims
• Incompatibility of interior colors
• Decrease in perceived quality
• Premature aging of the material

The GME 60292-2 standard helps to identify materials that can maintain the appearance of a vehicle throughout its lifespan.

Although this standard was developed for General Motors Europe, it can be widely applied in the following areas:

• Automotive interior manufacturing
• Textile production
• Leather manufacturing
• Plastic component manufacturing
• Paint and coating development
• Decorative film manufacturing
• Polymer research laboratories
• Automotive materials qualification laboratories

The GME 60292-2 standard follows the same general principles as many internationally accepted lightfastness standards, including:

• ISO 105-B02 Textiles - Color fastness tests - Part B02: Color fastness to artificial light: xenon arc fading lamp test
• ISO 4892-2 Plastics - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources - Part 2: Xenon arc lamps
• Accelerated exposure of automotive interior trim components using a SAE J2412 controlled radiation xenon arc device.
• GMW 3414 Artificial aging process for automotive interior trim materials.

These standards utilize similar xenon arc exposure principles, but may differ in irradiation levels, temperatures, exposure cycles, and acceptance criteria.

The GME 60292-2 standard provides the following benefits:

• It simulates prolonged exposure to sunlight in a laboratory setting.
• It detects fading before the vehicle is manufactured.
• It ensures color consistency among suppliers.
• It supports the validation of new interior materials.
• It reduces warranty risks associated with changes in appearance.
• It improves durability and perceived vehicle quality.
• It provides repeatable, standardized testing conditions for supplier qualification.

In conclusion, the GME 60292-2 standard is a crucial environmental durability standard for evaluating the color stability of automotive interior materials under artificial sunlight and high-temperature conditions. By exposing samples to xenon arc radiation at a standard black temperature of 100 degrees, this standard helps test engineers assess how textiles, plastics, leather, trim, and decorative materials will perform after years of exposure within a vehicle. This standard supports material selection, supplier approval, and quality assurance, helping to ensure that automotive interiors maintain their intended appearance throughout the vehicle's lifespan.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services compliant with the GME 60292-2 standard.