In the automotive industry, the choice of high-viscosity white oil used in the production of cabin interiors matters for many reasons. Chief among them is consumer health.
The release of chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), into the interior air that drivers breathe every day is a serious health concern.
Inferior process oils can be part of the problem. But thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) manufacturers, in partnership with their high-viscosity white oil supply partners, are making great progress toward solving it.
Can VOCs Cause Cancer?
It’s been common knowledge for years that the chemicals released from interior components, which together produce that “new car smell,” aren’t exactly good for people to inhale. Just how dangerous they are remains a subject of research.
In a summer 2022 study, researchers in Beijing took interior air samples of a mid-size SUV (sport-utility vehicle) manufactured once month prior over a 12-day period.
As reported by journalist Bruce Y. Lee in Forbes, they found elevated levels of benzene and concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the interior air that were, respectively, 34.9% and 60.5% above Chinese national safety standards.
“Formaldehyde and benzene … are considered class I carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), meaning that they are known to be cancer-causing agents. Meanwhile, acetaldehyde, ethylbenzene, and styrene are considered class II probable carcinogens, meaning that studies have suggested that they probably can cause cancer.”
These results would suggest that yes, driving or riding in a new car with the windows up, particularly in the summer, carries the risk of inhaling cancer-causing VOCs.
So what are automakers doing to combat this problem, and what more can be done?
Improving Vehicle Interior Air Quality (VIAQ)
Though emissions of VOCs and other chemicals are typically strongest when a vehicle is new, it remains a concern throughout the life of the vehicle.
As a 2015 white paper by global safety organization UL reported:
“Most research indicates that the highest chemical concentrations affecting VIAQ are typically found in new vehicles … Numerous studies have found the measurable presence of anywhere from 30 to more than 250 separate VOCs in a single vehicle, in total concentrations as high as 14,000 µg/m3.” (Approximately 5 ppm.) “And, while concentrations of chemical emissions may decline as a vehicle ages, they can also quickly rebound when elevated vehicle temperatures stimulate vaporization of chemicals in interior finishes.”
Of particular concern is when high temperatures cause emissions to the extent that outgassed materials from interior components accumulate on the windshield interior.
Though this “fogging” effect is caused by emissions (volatility) from inferior process oils rather than the VOCs, it is disconcerting to consumers.
Mineral oils may not be cancer-causing, but they are an emission of concern. Inhaling some grades when outgassed can cause irritation in the lungs, coughing, and shortness of breath. (In comparison, Signal Fluid Solutions’ high viscosity white oils have very low volatility and nearly inert/non-toxic ratings.)
Reducing emissions to the greatest extent possible to improve VIAQ and eliminating automotive fogging are, as of 2023, top concerns among automotive regulators worldwide.
High Viscosity White Oil Is Part of the Solution
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) manufacturers serving the automotive industry can significantly reduce the risk of poor VIAQ through the use of low-VOC and VOC-free materials.
These materials include, but are not limited to:
- Adhesives
- Fabrics
- Foams
- Plastics
In addition, though process oil used in the production of these components is typically VOC-free, it’s best to use high viscosity (high molecular weight) oils so that they do not volatilize and add to air quality concerns and visible fogging.
Using a higher viscosity/higher molecular weight paraffinic oil has additional benefits as well.
- It reduces the possibility of transport to the surface of the soft-touch article, keeping the process oil where it belongs to maintain the suppleness of interior components, such as headliners, gear shift covers, and side paneling, throughout the life of the vehicle.
- Low volatility combined with technical-grade clarity offers greater color stability for consistency for all interior moldings across product lines.
- Exceeding the minimum technical requirements of today helps automakers prepare for stricter regulations tomorrow.
Together, TPE manufacturers and their high-viscosity white oil suppliers can do much to improve interior air quality for drivers and passengers around the world.
Eliminate Interior Emissions with Renoil 2400-LV High-Viscosity White Oil
In partnership with TPE makers in the automotive space, Signal Fluid Solutions has spent the last several years developing low-volatility oils with increasingly high viscosity to extend our Chevron Paralux line.
These extremely pure, VOC-free, white oils include:
- Renoil 1000-LV (low volatility)
- Renoil 1500-LV
- Renoil 2400-LV
These are just a few of the products we’ve developed to help our customers meet the unique, niche needs of their customers today and tomorrow.
To learn more about staying ahead of environmental regulations and other industry trends with products like our high-viscosity white oils, please reach out for a consultation.
We look forward to working with you!
