The Automotive Interior Material Fogging Tester is widely used to evaluate the volatile components released from materials such as plastics, textiles, leathers, adhesives, nonwoven fabrics, and thermoplastic elastomers under high-temperature conditions.
It can also be applied to measure the fogging phenomenon in xenon headlamps and other optical components exposed to heat.
There are three common test methods for evaluating the fogging characteristics of automotive interior materials.
1. Gloss Method
In the gloss method, the specimen is heated in a fogging cup, causing volatile substances to evaporate and condense on a cooled glass plate.
By comparing the gloss value of the glass plate before and after condensation, the fogging value of the material can be calculated.
This method evaluates how much the condensate reduces surface gloss, which directly reflects optical clarity and visibility.
2. Haze Method
The haze method follows a similar heating and condensation process, but the haze value (light scattering) of the glass plate is measured instead of gloss.
By comparing the haze before and after condensation, the amount of fogging condensate is quantified.
This method provides more sensitive data for materials that produce fine, diffused fog layers affecting transparency.
3. Gravimetric (Weight) Method
In the gravimetric method, the specimen is heated in the fogging cup, and the evaporated substances condense on a cooled aluminum foil instead of glass.
The weight of the aluminum foil is measured before and after condensation, and the difference represents the mass of fogging condensate.
This method is ideal for quantitative analysis of volatile emissions and material purity.
