Group Standard TL 52622

Issue 2012-07
Class. No.: 55154

Descriptors: thermoplastics, elastomers, plenum panel cover, mirror mounting triangle, outer sill cover, water-catching
strip, material data sheet, roof trim strip, Cd-enhancing sill, splash guard

Thermoplastic Elastomers for the Exterior

Test Scope for Material Data Sheets

Previous issues
TL 52622: 2003-03, 2005-11

Changes
The following changes have been made compared with TL 52622: 2005-11:
– Test conditions for aging changed
– Test requirements reduced by canceling the tensile test for pure design-dependent parts
– Applicable documents updated
– Detailed notes on testing
– Test plan for build sample approval (BMG) and first-sample test (for suppliers)
– Title changed
– Complete revision

1 Scope
This Technical Supply Specification (TL) specifies both the component requirements for thermoplas‐
tic elastomers combined with thermoplasts and the pure thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) applications
used externally for finished parts. These include, for example, the plenum panel cover, mirror triangle,
outer sill cover, water catching strip, roof trim strip, Cd-enhancing sill, and splash guard.
As an example, the following materials may be used here:
TPO-(EPDM+PP) – non-cross-linked EPDM+PP polymer mixture
TPV-(EPDM+PP) – cross-linked EPDM+PP polymer mixture
SEBS – styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene copolymer

Verify that you have the latest issue of the Standard before relying on it.
This electronically generated Standard is authentic and valid without signature. Page 1 of 12
The English translation is believed to be accurate. In case of discrepancies, the German version is alone authoritative and controlling.
Numerical notation acc. to ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

Technical responsibility Standards Department

GQL-LP/4 Thomas Achtzehner Tel.: +49 5361 9 76414
GQL-LP/4 Dr. Lutz Wohlfarth EKDV/4 Ute Hager-Süß EKDV
GQL-LP Dr. Roger Hillert Tel.: +49 5361 9 49035 Manfred Terlinden
Confidential. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be provided to third parties or reproduced without the prior consent of the Standards Department of a Volkswagen Group
member.
This Standard is available to contracting parties solely via the B2B supplier platform www.vwgroupsupply.com.
© Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft VWNORM-2011-08g
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TL 52622: 2012-07

TPU – thermoplastic polyurethane

The limit and tolerance requirements are specified in the respective material data sheets.

2 Description
See material data sheet.

3 Requirements

3.1 General requirements

Approval of first supply and changes as per VW 01155.
Resistance to open-air weathering as per VW 50185.
Avoidance of hazardous substances as per VW 91101.
The number of required parts may vary according to the component designs (consultation required).

3.2 Material – general notes/explanations

See material data sheet and section 5.1.
The technological properties of the materials used for the components must ensure the function and
safety of the vehicle over the entire service life. Fillers such as talc and mineral fillers, as well as
modifying agents used for heat and UV stabilization purposes, are permissible.
In components made of composite materials (metal/plastic, adhesive bond, hard/soft combination),
compatibility of the materials must be ensured. If necessary, the materials must be matched to each
other by means of pretreatments (e.g., bonding agents).
In the case of a pure TPE application with a hard component and without adhesive bond, the tests
must be conducted, except for section 4.6 to section 4.9.
If the material for the finished part is changed during development or during ongoing production, this
change must be presented and examined in all cases. Where applicable, a new build sample approval
(BMG) is required (only in the case of parts subject to build sample approval).
Material quality grades that have not yet been recorded in the material data sheets must have been
tested positively beforehand (e.g., by means of road tests, hot/cold country tests, and test beds), and
the basic requirements of the component as described in section 4 fulfilled. The new material grades
can then be included in the material data sheets.
In general, materials that are not yet in the data sheet collection may also be used. The data sheets
are supplemented within the scope of release testing. This is to ensure that newly developed materials
can also be used.
Material data sheets (MD) for the various designs can be obtained from the GQL-LP/4 Department,
and as an appendix to this TL via NOLIS (only available in the German version), and can be requested
by the manufacturing plants' appropriate Quality Assurance departments if necessary (for a sample
material data sheet, see section A.1).
There is a test plan in the appendix of the TL (as per the example of a test plan – section A.2 – and
the material data sheets), which the component supplier must use as a basis for the first sample and
production sample test. This test plan is stored in a writable PDF document so that it can be used
directly from the TL. The created form of the test plan is supposed to increase the clarity of the first
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TL 52622: 2012-07

sample and material test reports and reduce the frequency of errors (e.g., from forgotten tests, in‐
correct interpretation of testing procedures, etc.).

3.3 Marking as per VDA 260

DIN EN ISO 1043-1, DIN EN ISO 1043-2, DIN EN ISO 11469, and DIN EN ISO 18064 apply as the
basis for the marking. Marking must be carried out as per these standards.
The markings for the released material qualities must be obtained from the corresponding material
data sheets.

3.4 Types
As per drawing.

3.5 As per drawing

Injection molding process, 2-component injection molding, extrusion

3.6 Appearance
The surface and interior of the components must be free of flaws and processing defects, such as
flow lines, voids, cracks, or similar faults. Sink marks at the base of ribs and reinforcements are
permissible only if they do not adversely affect the part's function or appearance.

3.7 Conditioning
Prior to testing, the components and the specimens taken from the components must be conditioned
in the ISO 554 – 23/50 standard climate for at least 48 h. Where necessary, deviating conditioning
processes are described in the respective material data sheets.

3.8 Evaluation of the measurement results

The required numerical values apply to each individual measurement.

3.9 Types as per material data sheet

The mechanical material data specified in a material data sheet are valid only for the material type
of one or more suppliers that has been evaluated positively in terms of the material and released by
the laboratory (as per section 1.1 of the material data sheet).

4 General requirements for the finished part

The general requirements apply to all quality grades and combinations of materials. Mechanical
properties described in the material data sheets may vary depending on additional requirements. In
every case, both the general requirements and the material-specific requirements must be met in
order to describe the material quality actually used (also see the example test plan in section A.2).

4.1 Temperature resistance

The component must be resistant to temperatures ranging from (-30 to +90) °C and must be functional
for the entire service life of the vehicle. Deviating temperature limits must be determined if applicable
and specified in all cases, since this will also require stricter aging stabilization requirements.
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TL 52622: 2012-07

4.2 Elevated-temperature behavior

See section 5.2.
The components must exhibit no changes in shape, color, or surface that would adversely affect the
function and/or appearance.

4.3 Low-temperature behavior

See section 5.3.
The components must remain fully functional and free of damage when exposed to cold and subse‐
quently heated to (23 ± 2) °C. Visual impairments are also not permissible in the visible area.

4.4 Resistance to agents

See section 5.4.
The parts must be resistant to commercial car-cleaning and care products such as 5% detergent
solutions, industrial dust removers, and paint cleaners.
There must be no changes such as dissolving processes, swelling, discoloring, and/or cracking.
It must be ensured here that contact is avoided with cleaning agents and transit coating removers
containing hydrocarbons, since the elastomer parts in the components may react sensitively
(swelling, deformation, change in color) to these substances.

4.5 Aging resistance

See section 5.5.
The temperature level in the forced air oven is based on the temperatures to which the finished part
will actually be subjected. The aging behavior depends greatly on the material used and is therefore
described in the relevant material data sheet if required. Beginning with 90 °C in the exterior, the test
is conducted for 500 h at 100 °C. In the process, any potential combined system (hard/soft combi‐
nation) must also be taken into account in the evaluation, to be able to rule out interactions between
soft components and substrate.

4.6 Long-term low-temperature behavior (only if required in the material data sheet)
See section 5.6.
During aging, stabilizers must not alter the color of the component's surface. This applies in particular
to components that are not exposed to direct sunlight (e.g. end strips) but are still visible.

4.7 Adhesive strength (only for hard/soft combinations)

See section 5.7.
Adhesive strength > tear strength; a lower adhesive strength can be accepted in individual cases
(minimum requirement: 90 N/20 mm).

4.8 Environmental cycle test

As per Test Specification PV 2005; 60 cycles unless otherwise specified in the drawing.
No changes in shape, color, adhesion, or surface.
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TL 52622: 2012-07

4.9 Test for interactions of the hard/soft compound (only if required in the material data sheet)
See section 5.8.
The components must not exhibit any changes to their shape, color, or surface that would adversely
affect their function and/or appearance.

4.10 Xenon arc light aging

Applies exclusively to unpainted parts and parts located in the field of view; painted parts are tested
as per TL 211. See table 1.

Table 1
Kalahari test as per PV 3929 A visual evaluation is performed; no fading to gray and/or decompo‐
(1 year cycle) sition permissible; a soot-like coat can be accepted, provided it can
For vertical components be completely removed.
Florida test as per PV 3930 A visual evaluation is performed; no fading to gray and/or decompo‐
(1 year cycle) sition permissible; a soot-like coat can be accepted, provided it can
For vertical components be completely removed.
Kalahari test as per PV 3929
A visual evaluation is performed; no fading to gray and/or decompo‐
(2 year cycle)
sition permissible; a soot-like coat can be accepted, provided it can
Only for components that sit
be completely removed.
horizontally
Florida test as per PV 3930
A visual evaluation is performed; no fading to gray and/or decompo‐
(2 year cycle)
sition permissible; a soot-like coat can be accepted, provided it can
Only for components that sit
be completely removed.
horizontally

4.11 Adhesive bond (if present):

As per TL 52018.

4.12 Paint finish (if present):

As per TL 211.

5 Notes on testing

5.1 Material
Identification can be performed using the attenuated total reflection variant of the FTIR (Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy) procedure.
The filler content can be determined by means of TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) or ashing (as per
DIN EN ISO 3451-1)

5.2 Elevated-temperature behavior

Aging at elevated temperature as per DIN 53497, method B, is performed with at least one complete
component.
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TL 52622: 2012-07

Aging period: (24 ± 2) h

Aging temperature: (90 ± 1) °C (unless otherwise specified)

5.3 Low-temperature behavior

Environmental aging of at least one complete finished part.
Aging period: (24 ± 2) h
Aging temperature: (-30 ± 1) °C
The evaluation is conducted after heating to (23 ± 2) °C.

5.4 Resistance to agents

Finished part sections measuring (80 x 20) mm must be immersed for 30 min at (23 ± 2) °C (only one
half of each section) in
– 5% detergent solution1)
– Glass cleaner1)
– Paint cleaner1)
(at least 1 specimen per agent). This treatment must be followed by a 24 h period of aging in air at
(23 ± 2) °C (having taken the specimen from the particular agent, let excess agent drip off only).
Afterwards, the specimens must be rubbed clean with a cloth soaked with water or isopropanol.
Subsequently, the specimens must be evaluated.

5.5 Aging test

A finished part or finished-part section is placed in the forced air oven at the appropriate temperature.
As soon as there are substantially visible changes under heat, or the onset of decomposition of the
soft and/or hard component (if present) occurs, the end point is reached. Exuding of ingredients
(plasticizers, stabilizers) can only be tolerated if the residue does not permanently remain on the
parts. For this purpose, the aged parts must be conditioned for an additional 200 h at (23 ± 2) °C
room temperature and then evaluated again.
Should visible residues still remain, the heat aging test must be repeated as per the actually occurring
temperatures (at 90 °C as a general rule).

5.6 Long-term behavior at low temperature

Aging is performed for 240 h at -5 °C. The components are then visually evaluated (only if required
in the material data sheet).

5.7 Adhesive strength

For the adhesive strength test, specimens of 2 cm in width must be taken from the respective finished
parts; these specimens must include both the rigid component and the soft lip (exception: parts with
a soft lip molded onto their entire surface). The specimens manufactured in this manner must then
be clamped in the tensile test machine (e.g. from Zwick) so that the soft lip and hard component are
on one support each (make sure that the two supports are parallel!). The specimens must then be
pulled apart at v = 50 mm/min. Adhesive strength > tear strength is satisfied if the soft lip itself tears
(the residual pieces of the soft lip must still be attached to the hard component).

1) e.g., products from the Volkswagen line of products

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TL 52622: 2012-07

5.8 Test for interactions of the hard/soft compound

This test must eliminate possible interactions between hard and soft material components that can
lead to bloomings caused by transferring of stabilizers of the substrate to the surface.
Long-term testing is conducted over 1 000 h at +90 °C in the forced air oven. After removal, the parts
are aged for at least another 500 h in a standard climate (+23 °C at 50% relative humidity). Finally,
the parts are visually evaluated.

5.9 Density
Testing as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1.
Buoyancy method; any existing coat of paint does not have to be removed.
Three test specimens, which are taken from different points in the finished part, must be tested. For
encapsulations over the entire area, the soft lip must be carefully removed using a scalpel.

5.10 Hardness test as per Shore

Hardness test as per Shore A and Shore D as specified in DIN ISO 7619-1.
Specimen thickness: ≥6 mm (several test specimens can be stacked)
Reading time: after 3 s
At least three test specimens, which are taken from different points on the finished part, must be
tested.
If the whole surface of hard component is completely encapsulated, the test must be conducted
directly on the finished part. If the wall thickness of the soft encapsulation is too low for a test, the test
must be noted as "not feasible" in the test report.

5.11 Tensile strength and elongation at tear

Only applies to mechanically stressed soft components; whether the tests are necessary is listed in
the respective data sheets!
Determining tensile strength and elongation at tear on thermoplastic elastomers as per DIN 53504
Dumb-bell specimen: S 2; in unfavorable cases, dumb-bell specimens S 3 or
S 3A can also be used.
Pre-load: <0,1 MPa with a traverse speed of <50 mm/min
Traverse speed: 200 mm/min
If it is not possible to cut the dumb-bell specimens out of the finished part (e.g., parts that are com‐
pletely encapsulated), this must be noted in the test report as "not feasible". In this case, the test is
irrelevant, since it does not make any statement regarding the function of the parts.
The tensile test for the aged specimens is conducted as described above (after conditioning the
specimens at room temperature).

5.12 Specimen removal

Due to different component geometries, no generalized recommendation for removing the samples
can be specified. Only the following points must be noted:
For molded components, any areas with a potentially overhanging soft lip must be used. In the pro‐
cess, tapered specimens must be avoided, since they distort the result.
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TL 52622: 2012-07

To enable a better evaluation of the processing characteristics, specimens must, if possible, be taken
from the entire length of the component.
For heavily tapered parts at the injection ends (e.g., water catching strips), the specimens for xenon
arc light aging must be taken from the injection ends, since these represent the critical area.
For xenon arc light aging, the specimens must be taken from the encapsulated area to facilitate
simultaneous evaluation of substrate influences (e.g., adhesion, diffusion of ingredients between the
soft and hard component). Specimens must be clamped in the supports of the xenon arc light aging
devices such that the soft lip is the exposed side.

6 Applicable documents
The following documents cited in this Standard are necessary to its application.
Some of the cited documents are translations from the German original. The translations of German
terms in such documents may differ from those used in this Standard, resulting in terminological
inconsistency.
Standards whose titles are given in German may be available only in German. Editions in other
languages may be available from the institution issuing the standard.

PV 2005 Vehicle Parts; Testing of Resistance to Environmental Cycle Test

PV 3929 Non-Metallic Materials; Weathering in Dry, Hot Climate
PV 3930 Non-Metallic Materials; Weathering in Moist, Hot Climate
TL 211 Paint Coatings on Exterior Plastic Parts; Requirements
TL 52018 Adhesive Foam Tape, Adhesive-Coated on Both Sides; Material Require‐
ments
VW 01155 Vehicle Supply Parts; Approval of First Supply and Changes
VW 50185 Vehicle Parts; Resistance to Open-Air Weathering
VW 91101 Environmental Standard for Vehicles; Vehicle Parts, Materials, Operating
Fluids; Avoidance of Hazardous Substances
DIN 53497 Testing of Plastics; Hot Storage Test on Mouldings Made of Thermoplastic
Moulding Materials without External Mechanical Stressing
DIN 53504 Testing of rubber - determination of tensile strength at break, tensile stress
at yield, elongation at break and stress values in a tensile test
DIN EN ISO 1043-1 Plastics - Symbols and abbreviated terms - Part 1: Basic polymers and
their special characteristics
DIN EN ISO 1043-2 Plastics - Symbols and abbreviated terms - Part 2: Fillers and reinforcing
materials
DIN EN ISO 11469 Plastics - Generic identification and marking of plastics products
DIN EN ISO 1183-1 Plastics - Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics - Part
1: Immersion method, liquid pyknometer method and titration method
DIN EN ISO 18064 Thermoplastic elastomers - Nomenclature and abbreviated terms
DIN EN ISO 3451-1 Plastics - Determination of ash - Part 1: General methods
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DIN ISO 7619-1 Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic - Determination of indentation hard‐

ness - Part 1: Durometer method (Shore hardness)
ISO 554 Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing; Specifications
VDA 260 Components of motor vehicles - Marking of material
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TL 52622: 2012-07

Appendix A (normative)

A.1 Example of a material data sheet

See figure A.1.

Figure A.1
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TL 52622: 2012-07

A.2 Test plan (example) – for suppliers only

See table A.1 and table A.2.

Table A.1
Order data BEON/test report no.:
Author:
Phone:
Illustration/drawing of the component

Component designation Water-catching strip

Drawing number 123.456.789
Manufacturer/date of manufacture ABC company/2011-02-01
Material TPV-(EPDM+PP), PP-GF30
Material quality "trade name" ABC plastic
Raw material manufacturer XYZ
Testing as per TL 52622 – MD 01

Table A.2
Properties Unit Target values Actual Actual Mean value Number of
values values measure‐
min. max. ments
Material analysis & filler content EPDM+PP
FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, or de‐ PP-GF30
termination of ashing as per
DIN EN ISO 3451-1
as per section 5.1 of TL 52622
Density g/cm3 0,93 ± 0,02 x= n=
as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1
in compliance with section 5.9 of
TL 52622
Shore A hardness Unit 57 ± 3 x= n=
as per DIN EN ISO 7619-1
Reading time: after 3 s
as per section 5.10 of TL 52622
Elevated-temperature behavior No changes
Aging in forced air oven
24 h at 90 °C
as per section 5.2 of TL 52622
Low-temperature behavior No changes
24 h at -30 °C
as per section 5.3 of TL 52622
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Properties Unit Target values Actual Actual Mean value Number of

values values measure‐
min. max. ments
Resistance to agents No changes
as per section 5.4 of TL 52622
Resistance to aging h No changes
500 h at 100 °C
as per section 5.5 of TL 52622
Adhesive strength N Adhesive x= n=
Specimen width: 20 mm strength > tear
v = 50 mm/min strength
as per section 5.7 of TL 52622
Kalahari test Visual No changes
as per PV 3929
1- and 2-year cycles
as per section 4.10 of TL 52622
Florida test Visual No changes
as per PV 3930
1- and 2-year cycles
as per section 4.10 of TL 52622