Accelerated Thermal Aging of Natural Fiber/Polypropylene Composites for Automotive Interior Parts

In this study, lifetime prediction of natural fiber/polypropylene (NFPP) composites for automotive door trim was investigated using an accelerated aging test. Accelerated lifetime prediction was the key technology to assure the reliability of automotive components. The accelerated thermal aging test was performed at the temperature of 110, 130, and 150 degrees C. As a result of thermal analysis according to the thermal aging temperature, it was confirmed that the thermal decomposition temperature was lowered and the thermal decomposition rate was increased. The measured tensile strengths as a function of thermal aging temperature were used as accelerated lifetime prediction data for the analysis of the NFPP composites lifetime. The lifetime of the NFPP composite was estimated using the Arrhenius-Weibull distribution model. The estimated results exhibited that the B-1 lifetime of the NFPP composites was 684 million hours at room temperature (23 degrees C) and 39.2 thousand hours at 80 degrees C, respectively.