The standard "VDA 230-217 Plastic roll materials for motor vehicle interior trim" published by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) describes methods for testing the low temperature resistance of plastic roll products for motor vehicle interior trim, and for determining the cold resistance of plastic roll materials. These test methods simulate material behavior under impact or rapid bending at cold temperatures.
This standard includes two different test methods:
The choice of particular method depends on the use of the material inside the vehicle.
Method A Cyclic impact testing is a test method for determining the low temperature properties of plastic roll materials. This method is only considered suitable for materials that can be easily bent to the configuration required by the test at room temperature. Damage to the specimen is determined by a test performed at room temperature.
For the purposes of this standard, the temperature limit of brittleness refers to the lowest temperature at which not more than one in 20 specimens fractures under test conditions.
Two sets of test specimens are cut from each laboratory sample, one in the longitudinal direction and one in the transverse direction. The test specimens are selected within the full length of the roll material within its usable width. The test specimens shall be 15 plus/minus 0,5 mm wide and 60 plus/minus 1 mm long. At least 10 test specimens shall be tested for each test temperature (five in the longitudinal direction and five in the transverse direction).
In principle, rectangular test specimens are bent into a ring shape and placed in a low temperature chamber and are rapidly folded by a blow applied with a freely falling hammer. The tests continue at decreasing temperatures starting from multiples of 5 and in steps of 5 degrees until multiple fractures are observed.
The impact device used in the tests has the following features:
Method B: Ball impact testing is used to evaluate the impact resistance of components, and these tests involve dropping a steel ball of a specific mass from a certain height through a tube onto the horizontal surface of the component being tested. The growing trend toward lightweight, multi-material automotive components is leading to increased use of hybrid plastics in vehicle interiors. These require extensive evaluation and functional testing in real-life vehicle environments. Ball impact testing is therefore used.
When using this test method, some components mounted vertically or at an angle need to be tested on the vehicle, but in these cases the ball cannot fall freely. Therefore, a portable test rig is used that fires a 50 mm diameter ball. The unstressed dimensions of the device are 60 mm x 220 mm, the stressed dimensions are 60 mm x 285 mm, and the diameter of the ball is 50 mm.
The energy required to apply force to the component does not come from a freely falling ball. Instead, kinetic energy is stored in a spring that is pre-tensioned and locked into position. When the locking mechanism is released, the ball accelerates and energy is applied to the surface of the component.
Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has carried out for businesses in various sectors, it also provides testing services defined in the “VDA 230-217 Plastic roll materials for motor vehicle interior upholstery” standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.
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