Automotive Materials Testing

High-performance automotive materials are critical to ensuring a car's safety, durability, efficiency and performance. A multitude of materials are used in the construction of a new vehicle. Glass, plastic, metal, adhesives, paints, coatings, petroleum products, composites, rubber, fabrics and more are used to make the 30,000-plus individual parts of a modern car. 

Automotive material testing is integral to evaluating and validating these materials according to international, customer-specific, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. Our global network of automotive materials analysis labs offers a dedicated and independent knowledge resource, staffed by scientists and engineers who are actively involved in standardisation committees, working groups and industry organisations. With over 30 years of experience providing expert services to OEMs, our experts support the latest innovation trends and best practices in the automotive sector.

Our engineers and scientists help suppliers and OEMs meet stringent performance and safety requirements for interior and exterior components through expert automotive material testing.

Adhesives Testing
Adhesives used in vehicle assembly must withstand various environmental and mechanical stresses. Our adhesive testing labs evaluate properties such as bonding strength, resistance to temperature fluctuations, and durability under mechanical loads.

Accelerated Ageing
We use accelerated ageing tests to simulate exposure to UV radiation, temperature changes and humidity to assess material longevity. This helps drive insight into how materials may be expected to perform over their lifetime.

Automotive Polymer Materials Testing
Our automotive polymer testing capabilities include functionality testing, perceptivity testing, weathering and environmental testing, physical testing and more.

Chemical Testing & Resistance Analysis
We perform chemical testing to determine the resistance of automotive materials to substances they may be exposed to under usual operation such as various chemicals, solvents, including fuels, oils, and cleaning agents. The data from these studies help to ensure long-term reliability and safety.

Coatings Performance
Protective coatings for automotive surfaces help mitigate corrosion, wear, and environmental damage. We perform performance testing to evaluate adhesion, resistance to chipping, and durability under extreme conditions.

Composites Testing
Composite materials in automotive industry are widely used for their strength-to-weight ratio. Testing ensures these materials meet mechanical performance requirements and exhibit resistance to impact and environmental degradation.

Failure Analysis Services
Our failure analysis team investigates the causes of material or product defects using advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopy. We also offer battery autopsy and failure analysis. The insight from these studies can help to find the root cause and help mitigate future safety risks and product recalls.

Flammability Testing
Ensuring materials meet performance and fire safety standards is critical. To comply with industry regulations, we routinely perform flammability testing, such as FMVSS 302, UL94, UL 2596, and other industry tests to assess thermal insulation, ignition resistance, burn rate, and smoke emissions.

Fogging Testing
Interior vehicle materials can release volatile substances that condense on windows, affecting visibility. Fogging tests measure the potential for condensation and help manufacturers select low-emission materials.

Global Automotive Declarable Substances List (GADSL) Compliance
Compliance with GADSL is essential for regulatory adherence. Testing services identify and quantify declarable substances to ensure materials meet environmental and safety standards.

Mechanical Testing
We have extensive mechanical testing properties for automotive materials. This includes tensile strength, impact resistance, and flexibility. The data from these studies drive insight into structural integrity and performance under operational stresses.

Metallurgy Analysis
Metallic materials are tested for composition, microstructure, hardness, and fatigue resistance. These tests are crucial for evaluating the durability and reliability of automotive components.

Optical Testing
Materials' optical properties, such as light transmission, reflectance, and haze, are assessed to ensure visibility, aesthetic appeal, and compliance with automotive lighting standards.

Performance Testing
Our automotive materials testing team perform rigorous performance testing to assess their behaviour under real-world conditions, including exposure to mechanical loads, extreme temperatures, and environmental stressors.

PPAP Services (Production Part Approval Process)
Our PPAP experts help ensures that suppliers meet the design and production requirements of automotive manufacturers. It involves thorough documentation, validation, and approval processes.

Surface Analysis
The surface properties of materials impact durability and aesthetic quality. We use advanced analysis techniques to assess texture, coating adherence, and contamination levels.

Research & Development (R&D) Support for Materials
Innovative materials require extensive R&D testing to validate their feasibility for automotive applications. Intertek provides support in prototype testing, material characterization, and performance enhancement.

Textiles Testing
Textile materials used in vehicle interiors must meet durability, comfort, and fire resistance requirements. Testing assesses abrasion resistance, colour fastness, and material strength.

Quality Testing and Assessment
Ensuring materials meet strict quality standards is essential for vehicle safety and longevity. Quality assessment covers consistency, defect detection, and compliance with industry benchmarks.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Testing
Testing VOC odors and emissions from automotive materials can impact vehicle air quality. We perform VOC testing according to a wide range of OEM specifications to evaluate emissions levels to ensure compliance with health and environmental regulations.

Automotive material testing is integral to developing safe, high-performance, and compliant vehicles. With expertise spanning decades and multiple disciplines, our team are ready to help you ensure that automotive materials meet rigorous standards, supporting manufacturers in delivering quality and reliability to consumers. By staying at the forefront of industry advancements, we remain a trusted partner in automotive material evaluation and innovation.

Intertek Automotive Material Testing Services:

Plastics/Elastomers/Adhesives/Foam
ABS: GMW15572, GMW15580, GMW15581, GMW15582, GMW15583, GMW15949, HES C251, HES D2501, WSS-M4D483-D1, WSS-M4D585-C1, WSS-M4D483-C1, MS HZ-100

Nylon (Polyamide): GMW16370, GMW3029, GMW3038, GMW16035, GMW16036, GMW16262, GMW16270, GMW16272, GMW16279, GMW16370, GMW3029, GMW3038, GMW8693, GMW8694, GMW8751, GMW8752, GMW8752, GMW8753, TSM5516G, TSM5516G, WSB-M4D658-A, WSS-M4D240-A2

PP/PE (Polyolefin): GMW15548, GMW15549, GMW15674, GMW15890, GMW15988, GMW16007, GMW16008, GMW16196, GMW16208, GMW16211, GMW16214, GMW16, TSM5514G, TSM5518G, TSM5608G, TSM5608G, HES D2502, HES C252, HES D2502, WSL-M98D29-A, WSS-M4D865-B8, WSK-M4D731-A2

TPE: GMW GMW15816, GMW15817, GMW15825, GMW16233, GMW16088, WSK-M4D713-A, WSS-M2D378-B1, WSS-M2D379-B1, WSS-M2D380-B1, WSS-M2D381-B1, WSS-M2D382-B1

PVC: GMW16080, GMW16081, GMW16084

Plastic Molding Materials: GMW15702, TSM0501G, TSM0506G, HES D2500, NES M8020

Adhesives: GMW15921, GMW16005, GMW16183, GMW16184, GMW16185, GMW15265, GMW15802, GMW16251, GMW16252

Foam: GMW15063, GMW15064, GMW15065, GMW15066, TSM7605G

Composites: GMW16278, GWM 15932, TSM5601G, TSM5603G

Metal: ASTM E18, ASTM E384, ASTM E8, ASTM A370, ASTM E112, ASTM E45, ASTM B487

Glass: ANSI/SAE Z26.1, ASTM D1003, ASTM F801, ASTM F2156, ATPD 2352, ATPD 2352P, MIL-DTL-62420, MIL STD 810F