Nissan NES M0132 Thermal Cycle Test Methods for Plastic Parts

The standard “Nissan NES M0132 Thermal cycle test methods for plastic parts” developed by Nissan automobile company covers plastic parts used in automobiles and describes thermal cycle test methods that check the presence of shape, size, appearance and similar abnormalities caused by repeated exposure to high temperature at a relatively early stage of market use.

According to this standard, the test site conditions should be as follows:

• Room temperature conditions: The test chamber should be maintained at standard temperature and humidity conditions of Class 5 (temperature 20 degrees plus/minus 5 degrees) and Class 20 (relative humidity 65 percent plus/minus 20 percent) respectively, according to the “JIS Z-8703 Standard atmospheric conditions for testing” standard.
• Standard conditions: Temperature and humidity should be in Class 2 (temperature 20 degrees plus/minus 2 degrees) and Class 2 (relative humidity 65 percent plus/minus 2 percent) standard conditions, respectively, according to the “JIS Z-8703 Standard atmospheric conditions for testing” standard.

The main equipment used in these tests are:

• Temperature-controlled chamber: Temperature control should be plus/minus 2 degrees Celsius or less. In terms of heating and cooling capabilities, the chamber, along with the test pieces and fixtures inside, should be capable of heating or cooling to the specified temperature within 30 minutes.
• Temperature and humidity controlled chamber: Temperature control should be plus/minus 2 degrees Celsius or less, and humidity control should be plus/minus 5 percent or less. In terms of heating, cooling, and capacity, the chamber, including the test parts and fixtures inside, should be capable of heating, cooling, and humidifying to the specified test conditions within 30 minutes.

Finished test pieces (including molded products completed as assemblies or subassemblies, as well as finished parts, including composite parts) shall be used as test pieces when available. Testing shall be performed after the test pieces have been conditioned for 24 hours under the standard conditions specified herein, unless otherwise specified. Test details and the number of test pieces are subject to agreement between the parties involved.

The testing method consists of the following steps:

• Vehicle-mounted test parts are mounted in fixtures. The fixtures are placed in a temperature-controlled room or temperature and humidity-controlled room, and the specified high-temperature test is performed for the specified duration. Vehicle-mounted test parts are mounted on a test bench or fixtures to simulate the loading conditions in the vehicle. If the part requires a weight to simulate the loading conditions, the weight, size, and location are subject to agreement between the parties involved.
• After heating for the specified time, the test pieces are checked against the evaluation elements at the test temperature. If, due to equipment limitations, it is not possible to check the test pieces in the chamber, the test pieces are checked against the evaluation elements within 3 minutes of removal from the chamber.
• After the evaluation is completed, the test pieces are left at room temperature for more than 30 minutes.
• Test pieces are checked against evaluation items.
• Then, the test piece is sequentially placed in constant temperature-controlled or temperature and humidity-controlled chambers set to the specified heat cycling condition and held for the specified time, respectively.
• After completion of the specified thermal test cycles, the test pieces are left at room temperature for more than 30 minutes and then checked against the evaluation items.

The evaluation is carried out according to the elements shown in the table titled “Evaluation elements” given in the standard:

• Shape, size
  • Dimensional change
  • Deformation
  • Space
  • Roughness
  • Disorder (Inequality)
• View
  • wrinkles
  • separation, crack, break
  • Swelling
  • Peeling
  • Discoloration
• Surface feature
  • Softening, hardening
• Other items:
  • Seizing
  • Hesitation
  • Looseness and rattling of assembled parts
  • Breakage or malfunctions that occur during normal operation (normal operation refers to: hitting with hands, pushing or pulling with hands, scratching with nails, kicking with feet, placing or pushing objects on the part, or leaning or sitting on it)

The purpose of the Nissan NES M0132 standard is to evaluate the behavior of various plastic parts when exposed to repeated temperature changes, which is crucial for ensuring durability and performance in real-world climate conditions. This standard covers both interior and exterior plastic parts used in automobiles.

Test methods are divided into three types depending on:

• Whether the piece is indoors or outdoors
• Position relative to the door waist
• Exposure to sunlight

Each class has a specific number of temperature cycles and conditions. Test cycles typically simulate extreme temperatures by alternating between a high-temperature oven environment and a cold chamber. The equipment includes programmable thermal chambers that can perform rapid temperature transitions.

After testing, parts are evaluated for:

• Dimensional changes
• Deformation or distortion
• Surface changes (e.g. cracking)
• Softening or hardening
• Delamination or loss of adhesion
• Gaps or looseness in fit
• Visual defects such as discoloration or cracking

Plastic components (dashboard, door trim, bumpers, and seals) are subjected to stress from heating and cooling cycles throughout their service life. The NESM 0132 standard ensures that these components:

• Maintaining structural integrity
• Resisting deformation or cracking
• Comply with fit and finish standards

This standard is critical for original equipment manufacturers and suppliers to ensure component reliability and safety. It ensures the reliability, durability, and safety of plastic parts used in vehicles by subjecting them to thermal cycling tests that simulate real-world environmental conditions. This standard is considered important for the following reasons:

• Ensures material durability in real-world conditions: Automotive plastic parts are exposed to constantly changing temperatures, from freezing winters to scorching summers. This standard simulates rapid heating and cooling and extreme temperature differences. This helps detect early material failures such as cracking, warping, delamination, and discoloration.
• Protects vehicle quality and brand reputation: Defective interior or exterior plastic parts affect:
  • Vehicle appearance (fit and workmanship)
  • Customer happiness
  • Long-term performance
• Nissan applies rigorous testing standards to ensure:
  • Consistent aesthetic quality
  • Noise and vibration control (loose or deformed parts may rattle)
  • Proper fit and seal of parts (important for insulation, airflow, and safety)
• Reduces warranty claims and costs: Early detection of material defects during testing prevents:
  • Costly recalls
  • Warranty replacements
  • Customer complaints

It helps Nissan and its suppliers produce long-lasting parts, reducing long-term costs and liability.

• Sets clear criteria for suppliers: This standard ensures that:
  • Clear testing procedures
  • Objective pass/fail criteria
  • Standardization across all suppliers

This makes it easy to:

• Suppliers design and verify components
• Maintaining consistent quality across Nissan's global production lines

• Promotes material innovation (new resins, environmentally friendly plastics)
• Ensures new materials continue to meet performance thresholds
• Helps support global standards and original equipment manufacturer compliance

As a result, the NES M0132 standard is vital to ensuring that plastic parts in vehicles perform reliably over time, regardless of where the vehicle is driven or how harsh the climate is.

Our organization, which has been supporting businesses across all sectors for years through a wide range of testing, measurement, analysis, and evaluation activities, has a strong team of employees who closely follow global developments in science and technology and are constantly improving themselves. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the Nissan NES M0132 Thermal Cycle Test Methods for Plastic Parts standard.