Head of Working Group
"For 25 years emission and odour tests have been carried out at FILK. Thanks to our long-time experience and the linking of research and testing we have a basic level of understanding concerning the materials to be investigated. We do not leave you alone with the measuring values. You have direct contact to the processors. We support you in assessing test results and in searching ways for improving them.
Research and testing, theory and practice, finding and its application, arrange life and find a way for a little improvement every day – this is what makes our work worthwhile.”
Emissions / Odour
Manufacturers and processors of materials for interior in the field of automotive applications, object and residential interiors, furniture and many more know them - emission and odour tests. The detection of volatile organic compounds and condensable substances is carried out using standardised test methods and evaluation systems. In addition to the pure quantification of emitted substances, e.g. VOC and fog, the focus of these tests is also on the qualification of critical substances as well as pollutants.
Odour is a special form of emission. As an important quality feature, it contributes significantly to the purchase decision. Therefore, odour is of great importance, especially in the automotive and furniture industries. It is a test criterion relevant to release. Odour perceptions cannot be recorded instrumentally. Therefore, odour testing is a sensory test in which trained examiners assign grades. These marks are backed up with odour descriptions.
We test emissions and odour of leather, imitation leather, plastics, textiles and other materials, composites as well as assemblies, e.g. for car interiors, according to the specifications of the following manufacturers: Daimler, Volkswagen / AUDI, BMW, Porsche, PSA-Peugeot / Citroen, Opel, Renault, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla.
And because emissions and odour are also among our research priorities, we can do more than measure. We work on clarifying the specific emission behaviour of materials as well as on reducing emissions from interior materials such as leather, artificial leather, plastics, textiles, foams and foils. The production processes and the life cycle of the material are often included in the considerations. We provide you with assistance in evaluating your test results and in solving material-specific problems.
In emission analysis using chromatography, the gas mixture formed by the emissions is separated and then analyzed using various detectors. For example, the individual components can be evaluated and identified using mass spectrometric detectors (MS). Since a broad spectrum of substances can be analyzed, an overview of the composition of the outgassing substances is obtained. This information can be helpful in evaluating these substances with regard to their hazard potential.
Odour tests are sensory tests. Trained examiners give marks after the smell of the gas space above the sample. These grades are underlaid with odour assessments or descriptors. We carry out odour tests in a wide range of variants.
Most test methods include different sample sizes and temperatures. Therefore it is important to agree on the test conditions beforehand or to take them from the relevant requirements.
We are happy to advise you.The fogging behavior evaluates the intensity of the outgassing of medium to low volatile substances, which, for example in cars, are deposited on the inside of the windshield and can cloud it.
Formaldehyde is used in the production of dyes, medicines and in textile finishing. It is a strong reducing agent and is carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction. When determining it, a distinction is made between the formaldehyde released by emissions, the formaldehyde content and free formaldehyde. With the first two methods, other aldehydes including glutaraldehyde and ketones can also be determined quantitatively. In the third procedure, the "free formaldehyde" is determined. The sample is heated in an inert, dry atmosphere and the released formaldehyde is collected in a gas cartridge.
Contact Person: Dr. Ute Morgenstern / Chemical-Analytical Testing
Amines often cause discoloration and other problems on surfaces of leather and coated textiles.
The presented emission and emission chamber investigations are the basis of defined analytical measuring methods and test procedures by defined test conditions. For other applications, e.g. research and development, the test conditions can of course be modified. Some examples are listed below. Do you have any questions? Then please contact us. We will help you with the design of experiments as well as with the evaluation of the results.