A Squeak Noise Study between Leather and Plastic

Recently, it is one of the major problems in the automotive industry that grating is occurred form the place that more than two different materials combined. It is the most severe case that the noise generates between automobile seats and other relative parts (or within seat parts). The purpose of this research verifies and suggests the way to reduce squeak noise between two different parts through the stick-slip test which is regulated by VDA. The two materials - the seat trim cover and the plastic - were selected as major factors. We conducted the test with two different types of seat trim cover (authentic and artificial leather) and plastics (PP and ABS) with 4 levels of embossing size (0 to 3, level ‘0’ is non-embossing. Level 1 is the biggest embossing and it goes through smaller. Level 3 is the smallest embossing size). Test results were reported with 1 to 10 Risk Priority Number (RPN) which was proposed by VDA (Verband der Automotilindustrie). As results, the RPN levels were below 3 for all combinations between embossing size of PP and trim cover materials. The RPN levels between ABS with 2 to 3 embossing and all trim cover materials were below 4. However, ABS with 0 and 1embossing was showed above RPN 6. PP was relatively robust for squeak noise both authentic and artificial leather (under RPN 3). On the other hands, ABS was recommended by the use of smaller size of embossing to reduce squeak noise. The result of this study could be used to decrease in noise and be useful for selection of the materials embossing size and type.