Group standard VW 50125

Issue 2017-12
Class. No.: 55112

Descriptors: door pull, door handle, vehicle interior part, vehicle interior, clip, switch, trim panel, bezel, housing,
polyamide 6, PA6

Polyamide 6 for Finished Parts in the Vehicle Interior

Requirements on Materials

Previous issues
VW 50125: 2004-05

Changes
The following changes have been made to VW 50125: 2004-05:
– Standard converted to new layout, standard restructured
– Material grades "PA6-14" and "PA6-15" added
– Section 3.1 "Basic requirements", Section 3.3 "Manufacture", and Section 3.5 "Conditioning"
revised
– Section 3.7 "Processing quality" and Section 3.8 "Melting temperature" added
– Section 4 "Requirements on materials": Requirements table divided into two tables (Table 1
and Table 2)
– Section 4 "Requirements on materials": Requirements for "Ball indentation hardness", "Viscos‐
ity index of the polymer", "Impact strength", "Scratch resistance" removed and requirements
for "Glass bead content" "Yield stress", "Elongation at break" added
– "D" marking removed
– Section "Applicable documents" updated
– Technical responsibility updated
– Further technical and editorial changes

Always use the latest version of this standard.

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.

Technical responsibility The Standards department

GQL-P/3 Volker Steinigeweg Tel.: +49 5361 9 28120
GQL-P/3 Eckart Herrmann Tel.: +49 5361 9 42116 K-ILI/5 Stefanie Peyer K-ILI
GQL-P Denis Eschwey Tel.: +49 5361 9 41184 Uwe Wiesner

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be provided to third parties or reproduced without the prior consent of one of the Volkswagen Group’s Standards departments.
© Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft VWNORM-2016-12
Page 2
VW 50125: 2017-12

1 Scope
This Volkswagen (VW) standard defines the material requirements for components made of polya‐
mide 6 (PA6) with different levels of glass-fiber content or glass fiber and mineral blends, in the
vehicle interior.
VW 50134 is used for PA6 applications outside of the vehicle interior.

2 Designation
Example designation for the type reinforced with 10% glass fiber:
PA6-GF10 as per VW 50125 – PA6-3
or example designation for the type reinforced with 10% glass fiber and 20% mineral blend:
PA6-GF10-MD20 as per VW 50125 – PA6-12

3 Requirements

3.1 Basic requirements

Approval of first supply and changes as per VW 01155.
Emission behavior according to VW 50180.
Resistance to open-air weathering as per VW 50185.
Colorimetric evaluation as per VW 50190
Avoidance of hazardous substances as per VW 91101.
Flammability as per Technical Supply Specification TL 1010.
The tests must be carried out on specimens made from finished parts.
The number of components required for complete testing depends on the size of the component.
The number of components to be supplied is determined in consultation with the appropriate de‐
partments.
If it is not possible to perform tests on the component due to the geometry, reference can be made
to data sheets, or measurements can be carried out on test panels. It is also possible to omit these
tests, following consultation with the appropriate Materials Engineering department.

3.2 Properties
The surface and interior of the finished parts must be free of flaws and processing faults, such as
flow lines, voids, and cracks. Sink marks at the base of ribs, stiffening elements, and bosses are
not permitted.
Materials containing glass fibers must have a surface that is free of flaws both to the eye and to the
touch. The distribution of glass fibers throughout the component must be sufficiently uniform so
that three specimens taken from different points on a finished part do not differ in glass fiber con‐
tent by more than 2.0%. Boundary samples must be agreed upon with the appropriate department.
The parts must permit flawless assembly. There must not be any functional risks and/or risks of
injury for assembly workers due to, e.g., burrs and/or residual foreign matter becoming loose.
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VW 50125: 2017-12

3.3 Manufacture
The materials are intended for injection molding.
If the PA6 is not modified for impact resistance, the use of homogeneous regrind from the first ma‐
chining process is permissible up to a content of 30 weight percent. Components must be validated
with the maximum regrind percentage to be expected.

3.4 Marking as per German Association of the Automotive Industry standard VDA 260
See table 1 and table 2.

3.5 Conditioning
A distinction is made between the "dry" and "conditioned" conditioning states.
Specimens from components in the "dry" state have been dried until a constant weight is reached
(section 5.2) and continuously stored in a dry atmosphere before testing.
Specimens from components in the "conditioned" state are specimens in the "dry" state that are
conditioned in a water-tight bag filled with water at 70 °C until the equilibrium state in table 1
and table 2 is achieved. Deviating from this procedure, specimens may also be conditioned as per
DIN EN ISO 1110.

3.6 Evaluation of the measurement results

The required numerical values apply to each individual measurement.

3.7 Processing quality

See section 5.9.
The visual appearance of complete molded parts is evaluated after aging in a medium that pro‐
motes environmental stress cracking. No through-thickness cracks or damage that could impair the
function are permissible on the components.

3.8 Melting temperature

See section 5.3.
The melting temperature must be > 215 °C.

4 Requirements on materials
The requirements, depending on the filler, can be found in table 1 and table 2.
 Table 1
No. Property Unit Requirements
Page 4

PA6-1 PA6-2 PA6-3 PA6-4 PA6-5 PA6-6 PA6-7

1 Material
PA6 PA6 PA6-GF10 PA6-GF15 PA6-GF20 PA6-GF25 PA6-GF30
see section 5.1
1.1 Stabilization Heat-stabilized
VW 50125: 2017-12

Heat-stabilized and impact re‐ Heat-stabilized

sistant modified
2 Marking > PA6 <
as per VDA 260 > PA6 < (or > PA6-I <, > PA6-GF10 < > PA6-GF15 < > PA6-GF20 < > PA6-GF25 < > PA6-GF30 <
> PA6-HI <)
3 Glass fiber content
% - 10.0 ±1.0 15.0 ±1.0 20.0 ±2.0 25.0 ±2.0 30.0 ±2.0
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
4 Mineral reinforcement
% -
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
5 Glass bead content
% -
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
6 Color As per drawing
7 Moisture content in as-re‐
Weight
ceived condition 0.7 to 3.0 0.7 to 2.7 0.7 to 2.3 0.7 to 1.9
percent
see section 5.2
7.1 Moisture content in equili‐
Weight
brium state in standard cli‐ 3.0 ±0.5 2.5 ±0.5 2.1 ±0.5 2.0 ±0.5
percent
mate VW 50554 – 23/50-2
8 Density
as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1, g/cm3 1.13 ±0.03 1.10 ±0.02 1.20 ±0.02 1.23 ±0.02 1.27 ±0.03 1.32 ±0.03 1.36 ±0.03
method A
9 Yield stress as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2 and section 5.8
9.1 Dry
MPa ≥ 70 ≥ 50 -
see section 3.5
9.2 Conditioned
MPa ≥ 35 ≥ 25 -
see section 3.5
No. Property Unit Requirements
PA6-1 PA6-2 PA6-3 PA6-4 PA6-5 PA6-6 PA6-7
10 Fracture stress as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2 and section 5.8
10.1 Dry
MPa - ≥ 80 ≥ 110 ≥ 120 ≥ 130 ≥ 140
see section 3.5
10.2 Conditioned
MPa - ≥ 50 ≥ 60 ≥ 65 ≥ 80 ≥ 90
see section 3.5
11 Elongation at break as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2 and section 5.8
11.1 Dry
% ≥ 3.5 ≥ 25.0 ≥ 3.0 ≥ 2.5 ≥ 3.0 ≥ 2.5
see section 3.5
11.2 Conditioned
% ≥ 20.0 ≥ 40.0 ≥ 6.0 ≥ 5.0
see section 3.5
12 Notched impact strength at 23 °C as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA and section 5.6
12.1 Dry
kJ/m2 ≥ 3.5 ≥ 16.0 ≥ 3.5 ≥ 5.0 ≥ 7.0 ≥ 8.0 ≥ 10.0
see section 3.5
12.2 Wet
kJ/m2 ≥ 20.0 ≥ 40.0 ≥ 6.0 ≥ 10.0 ≥ 15.0 ≥ 20.0
see section 3.5
13 Notched impact strength after aging (150 °C, 1 000 h) at 23 °C as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA and section 5.7
13.1 Dry
% Δ ≤ 50 Δ ≤ 30
see section 3.5
14 Elevated-temperature be‐
havior
There must be no change in shape, color, or quality.
as per DIN 53497
and section 5.4
14.1 Dimensional change
% ≤ 0.5
Length and width
15 Low-temperature behavior The finished parts must remain fully functional at low temperatures and remain free of any damage. They must not have any
See section 5.5 cracks or other damage at low temperatures or after the temperature has been raised to 23 °C.
VW 50125: 2017-12
Page 5
No. Property Unit Requirements
PA6-1 PA6-2 PA6-3 PA6-4 PA6-5 PA6-6 PA6-7
Page 6

16 Lightfastness
as per Test Specification
PV 1303
and section 5.10 The exposed surface must not have any changes in comparison to the as-received condition, e.g., color changes, chalking, or
VW 50125: 2017-12

(requirement applies only cracking.

to visible parts in the vehi‐ Gray-scale level ≥ 4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02
cle interior), number of ex‐
posure cycles as per draw‐
ing
17 Flammability
mm/min < 100
as per TL 1010
 Table 2
No. Property Unit Requirements
PA6-8 PA6-9 PA6-10 PA6-11 PA6-12 PA6-13 PA6-14 PA6-15
1 Material PA6-GF10- PA6-GF15-
PA6-GF35 PA6-GF40 PA6-GF50 PA6-GF30 PA6-GF40 PA6-GB30
see section 5.1 MD20 MD25
1.1 Stabilization Heat-stabi‐ Heat-stabi‐
lized lized
Heat-stabi‐
Heat-stabilized and impact Heat-stabilized and impact
lized
resistant resistant
modified modified
2 Marking > PA6- > PA6-
as per VDA 260 GF30 < GF40 <
(or (or
> PA6- > PA6- > PA6- > PA6-(GF10 > PA6-(GF15 > PA6-
> PA6-I- > PA6-I-
GF35 < GF40 < GF50 < +MD20) < +MD25) < GB30 <
GF30 <, GF40 <,
> PA6-HI- > PA6-HI-
GF30 <) GF40 <)
3 Glass fiber content
% 35.0 ±2.0 40.0 ±2.5 50.0 ±2.5 30.0 ±2.0 10.0 ±2.0 15.0 ±2.0 40.0 ±2.5 -
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
4 Mineral reinforcement
% - 20 ±2 25 ±2 -
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
5 Glass bead content
% - 30 ±2
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
6 Color As per drawing
7 Moisture content in as-re‐
Weight
ceived condition 0.7 to 1.9 0.7 to 1.5 0.7 to 2.0 0.7 to 1.5 0.7 to 1.9
percent
see section 5.2
7.1 Moisture content in equili‐
Weight
brium state in standard cli‐ 1.9 ±0.5 1.5 ±0.5 1.7 ±0.5 1.5 ±0.5 2.0 ±0.5
percent
mate VW 50554 – 23/50-2
VW 50125: 2017-12
Page 7
No. Property Unit Requirements
PA6-8 PA6-9 PA6-10 PA6-11 PA6-12 PA6-13 PA6-14 PA6-15
Page 8

8 Density
as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1, g/cm3 1.41 ±0.03 1.45 ±0.03 1.55 ±0.03 1.30 ±0.03 1.36 ±0.03 1.48 ±0.03 1.45 ±0.03 1.35 ±0.03
method A
9 Yield stress as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2 and section 5.8
VW 50125: 2017-12

9.1 Dry
MPa -
see section 3.5
9.2 Conditioned
MPa -
see section 3.5
10 Fracture stress as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2 and section 5.8
10.1 Dry
MPa ≥ 150 ≥ 160 ≥ 205 ≥ 95 ≥ 100 ≥ 110 ≥ 145 ≥ 70
see section 3.5
10.2 Conditioned
MPa ≥ 100 ≥ 110 ≥ 130 ≥ 60 ≥ 70 ≥ 90 ≥ 35
see section 3.5
11 Elongation at break as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2 and section 5.8
11.1 Dry
% ≥ 2.5 ≥ 2.0 ≥ 3.5 ≥ 2.0 ≥ 3.5 ≥ 5.0
see section 3.5
11.2 Conditioned
% ≥ 5.0 ≥ 4.0 ≥ 3.5 ≥ 7.0 ≥ 5.0 ≥ 3.0 ≥ 7.0 ≥ 10.0
see section 3.5
12 Notched impact strength at 23 °C as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA and section 5.6
12.1 Dry
kJ/m2 ≥ 12.0 ≥ 15.0 ≥ 2.6 ≥ 5.0 ≥ 18.0 ≥ 5.0
see section 3.5
12.2 Wet
kJ/m2 ≥ 20.0 ≥ 30.0 ≥ 9.4 ≥ 6.0 ≥ 24.0 ≥ 10.0
see section 3.5
13 Notched impact strength after aging (150 °C, 1 000 h) at 23 °C as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA and section 5.7
13.1 Dry
% Δ ≤ 30
see section 3.5
No. Property Unit Requirements
PA6-8 PA6-9 PA6-10 PA6-11 PA6-12 PA6-13 PA6-14 PA6-15
14 Elevated-temperature be‐
havior
There must be no change in shape, color, or quality.
as per DIN 53497
and section 5.4
14.1 Dimensional change
% ≤ 0.5
Length and width
15 Low-temperature behavior The finished parts must remain fully functional at low temperatures and remain free of any damage. They must not have any
See section 5.5 cracks or other damage at low temperatures or after the temperature has been raised to 23 °C.
16 Lightfastness
as per PV 1303
and section 5.10 The exposed surface must not have any changes in comparison to the as-received condition, e.g., color changes, chalking, or
(requirement applies only to cracking.
visible parts in the vehicle Gray-scale level ≥ 4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02
interior), number of expo‐
sure cycles as per drawing
17 Flammability
mm/min < 100
as per TL 1010
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5 Notes on testing

5.1 Material
The identity test can be performed by infrared spectroscopy or by differential scanning calorimetry
(DSC).

5.2 Moisture content

A minimum of 3 specimens measuring 20 mm × 20 mm must be sampled from different points on
the finished part; they must be weighed to an accuracy of 0.01 g and dried in a (vacuum) oven at
80 °C until a constant weight is reached. Before the second weighing, the specimens must be
cooled down to (23 ±2) °C in a desiccator.
The water content can also be determined with commercial moisture meters.

5.3 Melting temperature

The melting temperature must be determined by means of DSC as per DIN EN ISO 11357-1.

5.4 Elevated-temperature behavior

Heat-aging test as per DIN 53497, method B, to be performed on at least one complete finished
part. The aging time is 22+2
-0 h. Unless otherwise specified in the drawing or release, the aging tem‐
perature is (90 ±1) °C. For vehicle interior parts that are exposed to a higher level of solar radia‐
tion, e.g., on the dashboard or on the door or rear side trim panel waist rails, the aging temperature
is (120 ±1) °C.

5.5 Low-temperature behavior

At least one complete finished part must be aged in air at (-30 ±1) °C; aging period: 22+2
-0 h.

5.6 Notched impact strength

The notched bar impact bend test must be performed as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA.
If the standard specimen size cannot be prepared from the component, a specimen with length:
(50 ±1) mm, width: (10 ±0.2) mm, thickness as in finished product (up to max. 4 mm); notch
type: V-notch; support spacing (support width): 40 mm; test equipment: pendulum impact tester 4 J
may be used.

5.7 Resistance to aging

The specimens must be aged for 1 000 h at (150 ± 2) °C in a forced-air oven. Immediately after
this heat aging, the specimens must be placed in a desiccator. After the specimens have cooled
down to room temperature (23 ±2) °C, the notched impact strength must be measured. The meas‐
ured values of the notched impact strength measurements are set in relation to the initial values of
"notched impact strength; dry" (table 1, consec. no. 12.1 or table 2, consec. no. 12.1).

5.8 Tensile test

The yield stress, fracture stress, and elongation at break must be determined by means of a tensile
test as per DIN EN ISO 527-1 and DIN EN ISO 527-2, specimen 5A; test rate: 50 mm/min.
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5.9 Processing quality

Aging of at least 3 complete finished parts in a stress-relieving medium (e.g., solution with 35%
ZnCl2 solution (soldering fluid)). The aging period is 48 h at room temperature (23 ±2) °C. After im‐
mersion aging in the medium, the devices under test (DUTs) must be rinsed with tap water and
then dried for 24 h at 70 °C. They are then evaluated.

5.10 Lightfastness
If the number of exposure periods is not defined in the drawing, the following rule applies:
– 2 exposure periods of xenon arc light aging for components in areas subject to indirect solar
radiation
– 3 exposure periods of xenon arc light aging for components in areas subject to direct solar ra‐
diation (e.g., door waist rail)
– 5 exposure periods of xenon arc light aging for components in areas exposed to an elevated
level of solar radiation (e.g., rear shelf).

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 Ger‐
man terms in such documents may differ from those used in this standard, resulting in terminologi‐
cal 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 1303 Non-Metallic Materials; Xenon Arc Light Aging of Vehicle Interior Com‐
ponents
TL 1010 Materials for Vehicle Interiors; Burning Behavior; Material Requirements
VW 01155 Vehicle Parts; Approval of First Supply and Changes
VW 50180 Components in the Vehicle Interior; Emission Behavior
VW 50185 Vehicle Parts; Resistance to Open-Air Weathering
VW 50190 Interior Trim Components; Metrological Evaluation of Color and Gloss
Level; Visual Evaluation of Chrome Surfaces
VW 50554 Standard Atmospheres and Room Temperatures; Requirements on
Standard Atmospheres
VW 91101 Environmental Standard for Vehicles; Vehicle Parts, Materials, Operat‐
ing Fluids; Avoidance of Hazardous Substances
DIN 53497 Testing of plastics - Hot storage test on mouldings made of thermoplas‐
tic moulding materials without external mechanical stressing
DIN EN 20105-A02 Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part A02: Grey scale for assessing
change in colour
DIN EN ISO 1110 Plastics - Polyamides - Accelerated conditioning of test specimens
DIN EN ISO 11357-1 Plastics - Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) - Part 1: General prin‐
ciples
Page 12
VW 50125: 2017-12

DIN EN ISO 1172 Textile-glass-reinforced plastics - Prepregs, moulding compounds and

laminates - Determination of the textile-glass and mineral-filler content;
calcination methods
DIN EN ISO 1183-1 Plastics - Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics -
Part 1: Immersion method, liquid pyknometer method and titration meth‐
od
DIN EN ISO 179-1 Plastics - Determination of Charpy impact properties - Part 1: Non-instru‐
mented impact test
DIN EN ISO 527-1 Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 1: General principles
DIN EN ISO 527-2 Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 2: Test conditions for
moulding and extrusion plastics
VDA 260 Components of motor vehicles - Marking of material