TESLA TP-0000912 Emission Behavior of Materials

The “TESLA TP-0000912 Emission behavior of materials” standard, developed by TESLA, an American company that designs, manufactures and sells electric vehicles, describes methods by which the tendency of materials to emit volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) can be measured both directly and indirectly in a laboratory environment.

Direct measurement involves the semi-quantitative determination of the volatile organic compound emission profile of a material or combination of materials under controlled conditions by molecular analysis. Indirect assessment methods involve the measurement of experimentally observable traces of volatile and semi-volatile emissions, i.e. haze and odor. Although materials in cabin airspace are generally the subject of investigation, this standard can be extended to analyze any material of interest.

For the purposes of this standard, volatile organic compounds are defined as compounds in the volatility range between n-hexane and n-hexadecane and selected carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde.

In general, samples to be tested should be placed in odorless, airtight packaging (e.g. silicone-free aluminum foil in a polyethylene bag) within 2 hours at the earliest and 8 hours at the latest after final production. Care should be taken to protect samples from chemical contamination or severe physical exposures such as high temperature, humidity or light during transport and storage. Sample packaging should be labeled with identifying information about the product, including the date and place of production and any batch or lot number. The sample should not be labeled directly.

Before analysis, samples should be removed from their packaging and stored at 23 degrees and 50 percent relative humidity for 168 hours.

The test report must clearly identify the material tested. Any deviations from the methods prescribed in this standard must be approved by Tesla Materials Engineering and clearly stated in the test report.

The surface sampling technique for VOC emissions is specified by default. Material samples are prepared according to ISO 12219-3, taking care to minimize or eliminate edge effects. Samples should be taken at a thickness representative of the production. Samples thicker than 10 mm should be cut from the reverse side. For materials with an undefined production thickness or a thickness that may vary depending on the application, a sample with a thickness of 3,5 mm plus/minus 0,5 mm is used. Samples should be cut using punches to minimize heat generation. At least 3 samples are tested unless otherwise specified.

In some cases, a bulk sampling technique may be required. This includes situations where it is not possible to prepare planar, circular samples (e.g. adhesives or fibers) or where the surface emissivity cannot be measured accurately (e.g. porous materials). Bulk samples should be placed in an elevated position above the floor of the microchamber using a wire stand or other means to ensure that all surfaces of the sample are not significantly obstructed. Care should be taken to ensure that no organic material other than the test sample enters the chamber. The mass or dimensions of the test samples are specified in the relevant material standard. A minimum of 3 samples are tested unless otherwise specified.

For fogging tests, samples are taken in accordance with the ISO 6452 standard. For materials with undefined production thickness or whose thickness may vary depending on the application, a sample with a thickness of 3,5 mm plus/minus 0,5 mm is used. Unless otherwise stated, at least 3 samples are tested. The gravimetric method is applied in the tests according to the ISO 6452 standard.

For odor tests, the sample is subject to the VDA 270 standard. 3 samples are tested in the wet condition and 3 samples in the dry condition. When testing, all materials are tested in both wet and dry conditions or storage condition variants 270 and 2, respectively, according to the VDA 3 standard.

Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies carried out in a wide range 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 "TESLA TP-0000912 Emission behavior of materials" standard are also provided to businesses.