Laboratory Simulation of Field Exposure for Automotive Interior Trim

The automotive industry has used field testing, namely Arizona and Florida proving grounds, to provide accelerated real life environmental exposure. This testing can require up to 2 years before results are complete. In order to provide a development tool to screen material composites, the industry has accepted certain laboratory testing that simulates the ultraviolet (UV) and heat exposures found during field testing. A study was done to review the correlation of color shift after ultraviolet and heat aging exposure to that measured after field exposures. This work found poor color shift correlation for the environmentally acceptable vinyl skin/urethane foam composites studied. A modified laboratory test was found to more closely simulate field results. This test combined long term heat aging with a short UV exposure for more accurate color predictions.