Material Testing
Materials are often exposed to significant stress and must retain their properties reliably, even under extreme conditions. Our materials testing examines these properties in detail from a mechanical, chemical, and thermal perspective. We cover a broad range of materials, from plastics and metals to composite materials. This includes determining mechanical properties under tensile, compressive, and flexural loads, as well as analysing chemical properties and creating material data cards. Surface and coating tests, as well as flammability tests, are also covered.
AK LV 110
Test scope according to AK LV 110
AK LV 110 divides the testing of PUR foam for steering wheel coverings into six test groups: appearance and colour, abrasion, heat ageing, climate cycling, sun simulation, and fogging, burning behaviour and odour. We carry out each test individually or as a complete test sequence according to your specification.
↓Appearance and colour (07–08)↓Abrasion (11.1)↓Heat ageing (12)↓Climate cycling (13)↓Sun simulation (14)↓Fogging, burning, odour (15–18)↓Contact
Appearance and colour according to AK LV 110 (07 to 08)
The assessment in the as-delivered condition establishes how the covering looks before any stress is applied. It serves as the reference for all comparisons after abrasion and ageing.
| AK LV 110 | Complete test sequence: PUR foam of steering wheel coverings: The full test sequence according to AK LV 110 in a single order: appearance and colour, abrasion tests, heat ageing, climate cycling test and sun simulation with follow-up tests, as well as fogging, burning behaviour and odour. |
| 07 | Appearance: Visual assessment of the steering wheel covering surface in the as-delivered condition for defects such as pores, voids or gloss variations. |
| 08 | Colour: Comparison of the colour with the reference sample; also serves as the baseline for colour comparisons after the ageing tests. |
Abrasion tests according to AK LV 110 (11.1.1 to 11.1.3.6)
The steering wheel covering is the component the driver touches most often. The abrasion tests stress the surface dry, wet, with artificial perspiration and with typical cleaning agents – from Ajax and Pril to vinegar cleaner and cleaning benzine. The number in the name indicates the number of cycles.
| 11.1.1 | Abrasion – 5000 dry: Dry rubbing of the surface over 5000 cycles; replicates long-term wear from the driver's hands. Abrasion as well as changes in gloss and colour are assessed. |
| 11.1.2 | Abrasion – 3000 perspiration acid: Rubbing over 3000 cycles with an acidic artificial perspiration solution; simulates contact with sweaty hands. |
| 11.1.3.1 | Abrasion – 2000 dry: Dry rubbing over 2000 cycles within test group 11.1.3. |
| 11.1.3.2 | Abrasion – 1000 wet: Rubbing over 1000 cycles with water; shows whether the surface swells, loses colour or loses gloss during wet cleaning. |
| 11.1.3.3 | Abrasion – 100 Ajax: Rubbing over 100 cycles with the household cleaner Ajax; tests resistance to commercially available cleaning agents. |
| 11.1.3.4 | Abrasion – 100 Pril: Rubbing over 100 cycles with Pril washing-up liquid; tests resistance to surfactant-based cleaners. |
| 11.1.3.5 | Abrasion – 100 vinegar cleaner: Rubbing over 100 cycles with vinegar cleaner; tests resistance to acidic household cleaners. |
| 11.1.3.6 | Abrasion – 10 cleaning benzine: Rubbing over 10 cycles with cleaning benzine; a short but intensive solvent exposure, as occurs when removing stains. |
Heat ageing according to AK LV 110 (12 to 12.5)
In a parked vehicle, the steering wheel heats up considerably in the sun. Heat ageing replicates this stress; colour, appearance, abrasion resistance and dimensional stability are then tested again.
| 12 | Heat ageing: Storage of the covering at elevated temperature for a defined period; replicates thermal ageing in a heated vehicle interior. |
| 12.1/2 | Colour / appearance after heat ageing: Comparison of colour and surface with the initial condition after heat ageing. |
| 12.4 | Abrasion – 5000 dry: Dry abrasion test over 5000 cycles on the heat-aged sample; shows whether ageing reduces the wear resistance of the surface. |
| 12.5 | Dimensional change after heat ageing: Measurement of dimensional and shape changes after heat ageing, for example due to shrinkage of the foam. |
Climate cycling test according to AK LV 110 (13 to 13.4)
Changing temperatures and humidity put mechanical and chemical stress on foam and surface. After the climate cycling test, we check whether colour, appearance and abrasion resistance are retained.
| 13 | Climate cycling test: Cyclic change of temperature and humidity; replicates changing climatic conditions over the vehicle's service life. |
| 13.1/2 | Colour / appearance after climate cycling test: Comparison of colour and surface with the initial condition after the climate cycling test. |
| 13.4 | Abrasion – 5000 dry: Dry abrasion test over 5000 cycles on the climate-aged sample; shows whether climate cycling weakens the surface. |
Tests after sun simulation according to AK LV 110 (14.1/2 to 14.4)
Sunlight strikes the steering wheel directly through the windscreen. After artificial irradiation, the colour, appearance and abrasion resistance of the covering are assessed.
| 14.1/2 | Colour / appearance after sun simulation: Assessment of colour and surface after artificial solar irradiation; reveals yellowing, fading or gloss changes caused by light and heat. |
| 14.4 | Abrasion – 5000 dry: Dry abrasion test over 5000 cycles on the irradiated sample; shows whether light ageing reduces wear resistance. |
Fogging, burning behaviour and odour according to AK LV 110 (15 to 18)
Materials in the vehicle interior must neither fog up the windows nor smell unpleasant, and they must meet the requirements for burning behaviour. These tests qualify the foam for use in the vehicle interior.
| 15 | Fogging – gravimetric: Determines the amount of volatile components that evaporate from the foam and can condense as a film on the windscreen; the condensate is weighed. |
| 16 | Burning behaviour: Tests how quickly a sample of the foam burns – a basic requirement for all materials in the vehicle interior. |
| 17 | Odour behaviour – V3: Odour assessment by trained assessors after storing the sample in a closed vessel according to variant 3. |
| 18 | Fogging – gravimetric: Gravimetric fogging test according to section 18 of the standard; the condensate evaporating from the sample is weighed. |
All devices under test (DUT) are inserted
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