Group standard VW 44045

Issue 2021-09
Class. No.: 55111

Descriptors: PP, copolymer, homopolymer, non-reinforced, polypropylene, reinforced, vehicle exterior, vehicle
interior, with additive

Polypropylene, Finished Parts

Materials Requirements

Previous issues
VW 44045: 1970-02, 1972-12, 1974-03, 1976-12, 1986-12, 2002-10, 2008-06, 2009-01, 2016-12,
2021-04

Changes
The following changes have been made to VW 44045: 2021-04:
a) Section 4.6.2 "Testing as per table 1, no. 10.2 and table 2, no. 10.2": Missing specifications on
distance between supports and support radius added
The following changes have been made to VW 44045: 2016-12:
a) Section 3.1 "General requirements": VW 50026 and VW 52000 added as general require-
ments; note on sampling added
b) Section 3.3 "Manufacture" expanded
c) Section 3.8 "Requirements for the materials and properties": Test scope defined for released
materials
d) Notes on testing revised
e) Table 1 and Table 2: Requirements for impact strength, notched impact strength, flexural
strength, emission behavior, and colorimetric evaluation added; use of regrind removed
f) Appendix A "List of released materials" added
g) Standard edited and structure updated

Contents
Page
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................... 2
2 Designation ................................................................................................................ 2
3 Requirements ............................................................................................................. 2
3.1 General requirements ................................................................................................ 2
3.2 Condition .................................................................................................................... 3
3.3 Manufacture ............................................................................................................... 3
3.4 Grades ....................................................................................................................... 3
3.5 Marking as per VDA 260 ............................................................................................ 3

Always use the latest version of this standard.

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3.6 Conditioning ............................................................................................................... 3

3.7 Evaluation of the measurement results ...................................................................... 3
3.8 Requirements for the materials and properties .......................................................... 3
4 Notes on testing ....................................................................................................... 12
4.1 Material .................................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Stabilization .............................................................................................................. 12
4.3 Scope ....................................................................................................................... 12
4.4 Melting temperature ................................................................................................. 12
4.5 Yield stress and tensile strength .............................................................................. 12
4.6 Flexural strength ...................................................................................................... 12
4.6.1 Testing as per table 1, no. 10.1 and table 2, no. 10.1 .............................................. 12
4.6.2 Testing as per table 1, no. 10.2 and table 2, no. 10.2 .............................................. 12
4.7 Impact strength/notched impact strength ................................................................. 13
4.8 High-temperature behavior ...................................................................................... 13
4.9 Low-temperature behavior ....................................................................................... 13
4.10 Lightfastness ............................................................................................................ 13
4.11 Aging resistance ....................................................................................................... 13
5 Applicable documents .............................................................................................. 13
Appendix A List of released materials ......................................................................................... 16

1 Scope
This standard specifies the materials requirements for finished parts made of polypropylene homo-
polymers and copolymers, non-reinforced and reinforced.

2 Designation
Designation example for polypropylene homopolymer, highly heat-stabilized, without coloring:
PP as per VW 44045 – PP2
Designation example for polypropylene copolymer, heat-stabilized, with talc additive, with in-
creased stiffness and impact strength requirements, without coloring:
PP/E-I-TD30 as per VW 44045 – PP7

3 Requirements

3.1 General requirements

Approval of first supply and changes as per Volkswagen Standard VW 01155.
Granular material as per VW 50026.
Resistance to open-air weathering as per VW 50185.
Material conformity as per VW 91101.
Materials sample inspection as per VW 52000
Testing is conducted on specimens taken from ready-to-install parts.
Should it not be possible to take specimens from finished parts, procedure must be agreed upon
with the department responsible for the release (e.g., testing on test plates or omission of testing).
The deviation must be documented in the test report.
 Page 3
VW 44045: 2021-09

The number of samples required for complete testing must be agreed upon with the appropriate
department.

3.2 Condition
The surface and interior of the finished parts must be free of production-related imperfections such
as flash, exposed glass fibers, flow lines, voids, cracks, and the like. Sink marks at the base of ribs
and stiffeners are permissible only if they do not adversely affect functionality or appearance. The
finished parts must allow for trouble-free installation.

3.3 Manufacture
The finished parts must be manufactured using injection-molding and blow-molding methods.
All materials used must be indicated, including their material designation as per German Associa-
tion of the Automotive Industry (VDA) standard VDA 260, product name, and raw material manu-
facturer. They must also be described as per VW 50026. The use of granular material classes
GK1, GK2, GK3, and GK4 is permissible.
The use of homogeneous regrind from the first machining process (GK0 as per VW 50026) is per-
missible up to a content of 20 percent by weight.
Parts must be validated with the maximum regrind percentage to be expected.

3.4 Grades
See table 1 and table 2.

3.5 Marking as per VDA 260

See table 1 and table 2.

3.6 Conditioning
Prior to testing, the specimens required for the individual tests must be conditioned for at least 48 h
in standard atmosphere as per VW 50554 - 23/50-2.

3.7 Evaluation of the measurement results

The required numerical values apply to each individual measurement and each point on the finish-
ed part.

3.8 Requirements for the materials and properties

The requirements for properties are shown in table 1 and table 2.
For released materials, only a reduced test scope must be carried out, as identified in the "No."
column with the footnotes a) and b). For a list of released materials, see appendix A.
 Table 1
Grade PP1 PP2 PP3 PP4 PP5
Page 4

No. Property Unit Requirement

1 Material;
PP homopolymers PP copolymers
see section 4.1
1.1 Stabilization; Highly heat- Heat- and light-
VW 44045: 2021-09

Heat-stabilized Heat-stabilized
see section 4.2 stabilized stabilized
2 Scope For parts in the vehicle For parts in the vehicle For parts on the vehi- For parts with long For parts on the vehi-
interior subjected to interior briefly subjec- cle exterior not subject flow distances (easy cle exterior subject to
heat loads up to a maxi- ted to heat loads up to to impact stress flowing) and with in- impact stress (material
mum of 90 °C 140 °C; see creased impact is suitable for blow
section 4.3. strength requirements molding)
3 Marking > PP/E <
> PP <
as per VDA 260 (formerly: > PP/PE <)
4 Color Preferably black, car- Preferably pigmented
As per drawing As per drawing
bon-pigmented black
5 Density
As per material data sheet of raw-material manufacturer
as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1, g/cm3
(±0,02)
buoyancy method

6a) Melting temperature

as per DIN EN ISO 3146
or differential scanning calorim-
°C ≥ 160
etry (DSC)
as per DIN EN ISO 11357-3
and section 4.4

7a) Ignition residue

% -
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
8 Yield stress
as per DIN EN ISO 527-2 and MPa ≥ 30 ≥ 24 ≥ 22
section 4.5
 Table 1 (continued)
Grade PP1 PP2 PP3 PP4 PP5
No. Property Unit Requirement
9 Tensile strength upon fracture
as per DIN EN ISO 527-2 and MPa -
section 4.5
10 Flexural strength
10.1 As per DIN EN ISO 178 and
MPa ≥ 45 ≥ 40 ≥ 25 ≥ 30
section 4.6.1
10.2 As per DIN EN ISO 178 and
MPa ≥ 35 ≥ 30 ≥ 20 ≥ 25
section 4.6.2
11 Impact strength
as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eU kJ/m2 ≥ 100 ≥ 60 No fracture
and section 4.7

12a) Notched impact strength

as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA kJ/m2 ≥ 4,5 ≥ 4,0 ≥ 10 ≥ 40
and section 4.7
13 High-temperature behavior as per section 4.8
13.1 Aging temperature
(90 ±2) °C or as required in the No change in shape or surface that would impair performance; no color change
drawing
13.2 Aging temperature No embrittlement, no
(110 ±2) °C or as required in change in shape or
- -
the drawing surface that would im-
pair performance
14 Low-temperature behavior; The finished parts must be fully functional at low temperatures and must not exhibit cracks or similar damage even after
see section 4.9 heating up to (23 ±2) °C (see drawing for additional requirements).

15b) Lightfastnessc)
as per Test Specification
The surface exposed to light must not have any changes when compared to the as-received condition, e.g., color changes,
PV 1303 and section 4.10;
chalking, and/or cracking. Gray-scale grade ≥ 4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02
number of exposure periods as
per drawing
VW 44045: 2021-09
Page 5
 Table 1 (continued)
Grade PP1 PP2 PP3 PP4 PP5
Page 6

No. Property Unit Requirement

16b) Xenon arc light aging to deter-

The exposed surface must not exhibit tack and/or gumminess or wax-like exudations.
mine tackc) as per PV 1306
VW 44045: 2021-09

17b) Weathering in dry, hot climated)

as per PV 3929; The weathered surface must not exhibit changes as compared to the as-received condition, such as a color change, chalk-
number of year-cycles as per ing, and/or cracking. Evaluate this visually.
drawing

18b) Weathering in humid, hot cli-

mated)
The weathered surface must not exhibit changes as compared to the as-received condition, such as a color change, chalk-
as per PV 3930;
ing, and/or cracking. Evaluate this visually.
number of year-cycles as per
drawing

19a) Aging resistance; For parts in the For parts in the

see section 4.11 vehicle interior: vehicle interior:
Time until embrittlement or as ≥ 400; ≥ 400;
h ≥ 350 ≥ 200 ≥ 400
specified in drawing for all other applica- for all other applica-
tions: tions:
≥ 1 000 ≥ 500

20a) Scratch resistance

as per PV 3952 dL* ≤ 1,5
Load: 10 N

21a) Mar resistance

as per PV 3974 dGE ≤ 0,6
Load: 3 N

22b) Stress whitening behaviorc)

as per PV 3966 No visible stress whitening
Drop height: (300 ±0,5) mm

23a) Flammability
If required in the drawing
as per TL 1010
 Table 1 (continued)
Grade PP1 PP2 PP3 PP4 PP5
No. Property Unit Requirement

24a) Emission behavior

If required in the drawing
as per VW 50180

25a) Colorimetric evaluation

Interior parts
as per VW 50190
If required in the drawing
Exterior parts
as per VW 50196
a) This is required in the reduced test scope for released materials.
b) This is required in the reduced test scope for released materials if coloring is done at the part manufacturer.
c) The requirement only applies to visible parts in the vehicle interior or if specified in the drawing.
d) The requirement only applies to visible parts on the vehicle exterior or if specified in the drawing.
VW 44045: 2021-09
Page 7
 Table 2
Grade PP6 PP7 PP8 PP9 PP10
Page 8

No. Property Unit Requirement

1 Material;
PP homopolymers or copolymers
see section 4.1
1.1 Stabilization; Highly heat-stabilized, Heat-stabilized, with talc Highly heat-stabilized, Highly heat-stabilized, Highly heat-stabilized,
VW 44045: 2021-09

see section 4.2 with talc additive additive (30%) with talc additive (40%) reinforced with glass fi- reinforced with chemi-
(20%) bers (20%) cally coupled glass fi-
bers (30%)
2 Scope For parts briefly sub- For parts with increased For parts briefly subjec- For parts briefly sub- For parts subjected to
jected to heat loads stiffness and impact ted to heat loads up to jected to heat loads up frequent heat loads
up to 140 °C with in- strength requirements 140 °C, but not to im- to 140 °C with in- with demanding re-
creased requirements pact stress, and with creased stiffness re- quirements for
for dimensional stabil- demanding require- quirements; see strength, stiffness, and
ity and impact ments for stiffness and section 4.3 dimensional stability
strength, see dimensional stability;
section 4.3. see section 4.3
3 Marking > PP-TD20 < or > PP-TD30 < or > PP/E- > PP-TD40 < or > PP-GF20 < or > PP-GF30 < or
as per VDA 260 > PP/E-TD20 < I-TD30 < > PP/E-TD40 < > PP/E-GF20 < > PP/E-GF30 <
(formerly: > PP/PE - (formerly: > PP/PE - (formerly: > PP/PE - (formerly: > PP/PE - (formerly: > PP/PE -
TD20 <) TD30 <) TD40 <) GF20 <) GF30 <)
4 Color As per drawing
5 Density
As per material data sheet of raw-material manufacturer
as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1, g/cm3
(±0,02)
buoyancy method

6a) Melting temperature

as per DIN EN ISO 3146
or DSC as per °C ≥ 160
DIN EN ISO 11357-3 and
section 4.4

7a) Ignition residue

% 20 ±2 30 ±3 40 ±3 20 ±2 30 ±3
as per DIN EN ISO 1172
 Table 2 (continued)
Grade PP6 PP7 PP8 PP9 PP10
No. Property Unit Requirement
8 Yield stress
as per DIN EN ISO 527-2 and MPa ≥ 30 ≥ 24 ≥ 30 ≥ 27 -
section 4.5
9 Tensile strength upon fracture
as per DIN EN ISO 527-2 and MPa - ≥ 24 ≥ 30 ≥ 65 ≥ 80
section 4.5
10 Flexural strength
10.1 As per DIN EN ISO 178 and
MPa ≥ 50 ≥ 35 ≥ 45 ≥ 90 ≥ 120
section 4.6.1
10.2 As per DIN EN ISO 178 and
MPa ≥ 40 ≥ 30 ≥ 35 ≥ 38 ≥ 70
section 4.6.2
11 Impact strength
as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eU kJ/m2 ≥ 40 ≥ 50 ≥ 25 ≥ 30 ≥ 50
and section 4.7

12a) Notched impact strength

as per DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA kJ/m2 ≥ 2,5 ≥6 ≥ 2,5 ≥7 ≥ 10
and section 4.7
13 High-temperature behavior as per section 4.8
13.1 Aging temperature
(90 ±2) °C or as required in the No change in shape or surface that would impair performance; no color change
drawing
13.2 Aging temperature
(110 ±2) °C or as required in No embrittlement, no change in shape or surface that would impair performance
the drawing
14 Low-temperature behavior; The finished parts must be fully functional at low temperatures and must not exhibit cracks or similar damage even after
see section 4.9 heating up to (23 ±2) °C (see drawing for additional requirements).
VW 44045: 2021-09
Page 9
 Table 2 (continued)
Grade PP6 PP7 PP8 PP9 PP10
Page 10

No. Property Unit Requirement

15b) Lightfastnessc)
as per PV 1303 and
The surface exposed to light must not have any changes when compared to the as-received condition, e.g., color changes,
section 4.10;
VW 44045: 2021-09

chalking, and/or cracking. Gray-scale grade ≥ 4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02

number of exposure periods as
per drawing

16b) Xenon arc light aging to deter-

mine tackc) The exposed surface must not exhibit tack and/or gumminess or wax-like exudations.
as per PV 1306

17b) Weathering in dry, hot climated)

as per PV 3929; The weathered surface must not exhibit changes as compared to the as-received condition, such as a color change, chalk-
number of year-cycles as per ing, and/or cracking. Evaluate this visually.
drawing

18b) Weathering in humid, hot cli-

mated)
The weathered surface must not exhibit changes as compared to the as-received condition, such as a color change, chalk-
as per PV 3930;
ing, and/or cracking. Evaluate this visually.
number of year-cycles as per
drawing

19a) Aging resistance; For parts in the vehicle interior:

see section 4.11 ≥ 400
Time until embrittlement or as h
For all other applications:
specified in drawing
≥ 700 ≥ 500 ≥ 700 ≥ 1 000

20a) Scratch resistance

as per PV 3952 dL* ≤ 1,5
Load: 10 N

21a) Mar resistance

as per PV 3974 dGE ≤ 0,6
Load: 3 N
 Table 2 (continued)
Grade PP6 PP7 PP8 PP9 PP10
No. Property Unit Requirement

22b) Stress whitening behaviorc)

as per PV 3966 No visible stress whitening
Drop height: (300 ±0,5) mm

23a) Flammability
If required in the drawing
as per TL 1010

24a) Emission behavior

If required in the drawing
as per VW 50180

25a) Colorimetric evaluation

Interior parts
as per VW 50190
If required in the drawing
Exterior parts
as per VW 50196
a) This is required in the reduced test scope for released materials.
b) This is required in the reduced test scope for released materials if coloring is done at the part manufacturer.
c) The requirement only applies to visible parts in the vehicle interior or if specified in the drawing.
d) The requirement only applies to visible parts on the vehicle exterior or if specified in the drawing.
VW 44045: 2021-09
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4 Notes on testing

4.1 Material
The identity test is performed with infrared spectroscopy.

4.2 Stabilization
Stabilization refers to the addition of anti-aging agents (antioxidizing agents and, if necessary, anti-
UV agents). Test whether or not a finished part has been sufficiently stabilized as per section 4.10
and section 4.11.

4.3 Scope
"Briefly," as understood within the context of this standard, is equivalent to a period of up to 120 h.

4.4 Melting temperature

If the DSC method is selected for determining the melting temperature, the process must be as fol-
lows: Test equipment as per DIN EN ISO 11357-1 must be used. A plane-parallel finished-part sec-
tion with a weight of approx. 10 mg is used as the specimen.
Test parameters: Heat the specimen from 50 °C to 200 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min.

4.5 Yield stress and tensile strength

Tensile test as per DIN EN ISO 527-2, specimen type 5A, test speed: 50 mm/min

4.6 Flexural strength

4.6.1 Testing as per table 1, no. 10.1 and table 2, no. 10.1
Specimen dimensions: (80 ±1) mm × (10 ±0,6) mm × product thickness in mm
Test speed: (14 ±1) mm/min

4.6.2 Testing as per table 1, no. 10.2 and table 2, no. 10.2
If, due to equipment and/or specimen shape and size, a test as per table 1, consec. no. 10.1 or
table 2, consec. no. 10.1 cannot be performed, the following procedure can be used as a substi-
tute:
Determine the flexural stress at the maximum load as per DIN EN ISO 178, but:
Specimen dimensions: (50 ±1) mm × (10 ±0,6) mm × product thickness (up to
a maximum of 4 mm)
Distance between supports: 40 mm
Support radius: 1,0 mm to 1,2 mm
Test speed: (14 ±1) mm/min
Specimens taken from finished parts that are grained or painted on one side must be placed on the
test machine support in such a way that the grained or painted side faces the loading edge.
However, this must be agreed upon in advance with the Materials Engineering department respon-
sible for issuing the corresponding release.
 Page 13
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4.7 Impact strength/notched impact strength

Test device: Pendulum impact tester as per DIN EN ISO 13802

4.8 High-temperature behavior

Heat aging test in forced-air oven with closed damper flap on at least one complete finished part;
aging duration: (22 +2) h

4.9 Low-temperature behavior

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

4.10 Lightfastness
If the number of exposure periods is not defined in the drawing, the following applies:
– 3 exposure periods for components in areas subject to indirect solar radiation,
– 5 exposure periods for components in areas subject to direct solar radiation (e.g., door waist
rail, dashboard)
– 10 exposure periods for components in areas subject to extreme solar radiation

4.11 Aging resistance

Perform long-term forced-air aging in a forced-air oven with a closed damper flap at (150 ±2) °C.
Perform the test preferably on whole finished parts. It is permissible to perform this test on finished
part sections.
After cooling down to (23 ±2) °C, evaluate the samples visually and with mechanical loading (slight
bending and/or twisting by hand). If the specimen then does not show any signs of cracking (stress
whitening is permissible), the requirement is fulfilled.
The specimen has become embrittled if it shows signs of disintegration typical for decomposed PP
at any point (material starts to crumble).

5 Applicable documents
The following documents cited in the standard are required for the application of this standard:
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
PV 1306 Non-Metallic Materials; Exposure Test for Determining the Tackiness of
Polypropylene Parts
PV 3929 Non-Metallic Materials; Weathering in Dry, Hot Climate (Exterior)
PV 3930 Non-Metallic Materials; Weathering in Humid, Hot Climate (Exterior)
PV 3952 Plastic Components for the Vehicle Interior; Scratch Resistance Test
Page 14
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PV 3966 PP Components; Stress Whitening Properties (Ball Drop Test)

PV 3974 Plastic Vehicle Interior Components; Determination of the Mar Resist-
ance of Precision-Molded Grained Surfaces in the Vehicle Interior
TL 1010 Materials for Vehicle Interiors; Burning Behavior; Material Requirements;
updated translation: 2018-06
VW 01155 Vehicle Parts; Approval of First Supply and Changes
VW 50026 Granular Material for Thermoplastic Components; Classification and
Areas of Use
VW 50180 Components, Semi-Finished Products, and Materials in the Vehicle Inte-
rior; Emission Behavior
VW 50185 Vehicle Parts; Resistance to Open-Air Weathering
VW 50190 Vehicle Interior Equipment Components; Measurement-Based Evalua-
tion of Color and Gloss Level; Visual Evaluation of Chrome Surfaces
VW 50196 Decorative Exterior Parts in Non-Body Color; Determining Color and
Gloss
VW 50554 Standard Atmospheres and Room Temperatures; Requirements on
Standard Atmospheres
VW 52000 Material Sample Inspection; Requirements and Documentation
VW 91101 Environmental Standard for Products; Material Conformity
DIN EN 20105-A02 Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part A02: Grey scale for assessing
change in colour
DIN EN ISO 11357-1 Plastics - Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) - Part 1: General prin-
ciples
DIN EN ISO 11357-3 Plastics - Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) - Part 3: Determination
of temperature and enthalpy of melting and crystallization
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 pycnometer method and titration meth-
od
DIN EN ISO 13802 Plastics - Verification of pendulum impact-testing machines - Charpy,
Izod and tensile impact-testing
DIN EN ISO 178 Plastics - Determination of flexural properties
DIN EN ISO 179-1 Plastics - Determination of Charpy impact properties - Part 1: Non-instru-
mented impact test
DIN EN ISO 3146 Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or
melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polariz-
ing-microscope methods
DIN EN ISO 527-2 Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 2: Test conditions for
moulding and extrusion plastics
 Page 15
VW 44045: 2021-09

VDA 260 Components of motor vehicles; marking of material

Page 16
VW 44045: 2021-09

Appendix A (informative) List of released materials

The list of released materials is stored on the ONE.Konzern Business Plattform (ONE.KBP) –
Volkswagen Group Supply (www.vwgroupsupply.com):
Start > Information > Divisions > Quality Assurance > Materials Engineering