Oktober 1992

VDA
Determination of the odour characteristics 270
of trim materials in motor vehicles

1 Scope and Application

The test serves for the evaluation of the odour characteristics under
the influence of temperature and climate. The test is performed on
motor vehicle trim materials and on parts in contact with the air
introduced into the vehicle interior.

2 Terminology
Odour characteristic is the tendency of materials to liberate volatile
substances having a perceptible dour after storage at specified
temperature and climate.

3 Designation

Designation of the method for the evaluation of the odour

characteristics of materials under the influence of temperature and
climate:

Example for the test result designation:

Odour Test VDA 270 A 1 - Grade 3,5

| | | | |
Designation | | | |
| | | |
VDA number ------ + | | |
| | |
Test specimen variant ----- + | |
| |
Storage condition variant -----+ |
|
Grade -----------------------------------------+

Example of designation of set values in specifications, drawings

and similar documents:

Odour test VDA 270 B 2 - Grade < 3

4 Test Equipment

a Temperature chamber with air circulation per DIN 50 011

sections 2.1.1 and 2.2.10
Precision class 2 (+ 2 oC)

b Test vessels are 1 litre glass containers with odour-neutral seal and
cover

Notes:

Examples are containers made by Leifheit, model "Einkochspaß",

which can be found in shops for household equipment.

The 1-litre container was selected for easier test performance. 3-litre
containers are recommended in the case of arbitration, especially
when a greater number of testers is participating.

c Prior to each test run the test vessels are cleaned (e.g. in a laboratory
rinsing machine). They shall be clean and free of odours.

5 Preparation of the samples

Sample preparation only applies to certain materials according to

specification, otherwise the test is made on samples as supplied.

6 Specimens

The specimen quantity is specified in three steps -.see table 1.

The coordination to variants A / B / C is made according to the
proportional quantity of material used in the vehicle interior.
Table 1

Variant Application Quantity for

1-litre vessel 3-litre vessel

A Clips, stoppers, bushes and (10 + 1) g (30 + 3) g

other small parts

B Arm rests, ash trays, straps, (20 + 2) cm3 (60 + 6) cm3

gear shift lever bellows, sun
shields and other components
of medium size

C Covering and insulating (50 + 5) cm3 (150 + 15) cm3

materials, films, leather, foamed
materials, carpets and other
materials of important size

The samples are cut to a thickness of 20 mm when the material thickness of a

homogeneous material exceeds 20 mm. In the case of sandwich components
the test is made with the complete compound. In the case of small materials
several parts shall be used to obtain the desired sample quantity.

7 Performance of the test

Three storage conditions are available - see table 2. The selected variant can
be found in the specification, drawing, etc.

Table 2

Variant Temperature Storage duration Test indications

per 7.1

1 (23 + 2) oC (24 + 1) h a, b, c, d, f

2 (40 + 2) oC (24 + 1) h a, b, c, d, f

3 (80 + 2) oC 2 h + 10 min a, c, e, f
7.1 Notes concerning the tests

a. For variants 1 and 2 50 ml of deionized water is added in the test vessel

(1 litre or 3 litres). For variant 2 no water is added to the test vessel.

b. The sample(s) is/are entered into the test vessel in a way to prevent
direct contact with the water.

c. The test vessel is closed and stored in the pre-heated thermal chamber.

d. For variants 1 and 2 the evaluation is made immediately after removal

of the test vessel from he thermal chanmber

e. For variant 3 the test vessel is removed from the thermal chamber and
is cooled down to a test chamber temperature of (60 + 5) oC prior to the
evaluation.
After evaluation by three testers the vessel is stored again in the
thermal chamber at (80 + 2) oC prior to the evaluation by other testers.

f. Acceptance tests shall be made by at least tree testers. The

measurement shall be repeated by at least five testers if the grades of
individual tests differ by more than two points
Arbiration tests shall always be made by at least five testers.

8 Evaluation

The odour evaluation shall be made for all variants, using a grading system
from 1 to 6, half-steps being allowed.

Evaluation Scale

Grade 1 not perceptible

Grade 2 perceptible, not disturbing
Grade 3 clearly perceptible, but not disturbing
Grade 4 disturbing
Grade 5 strongly disturbing
Grade 6 not acceptable

The odour characteristic is indicated as an arithmetic mean of the individual

grades, the value being rounded to half-step grades, with indication of the test
method and the variant used