Mercedes-Benz DBL 7384 Coatings of Plastic Parts in Vehicle Interiors

The “ Mercedes-Benz DBL 7384 Coatings for plastic parts in vehicle interiors” standard, developed by the Mercedes-Benz Group , describes the requirements for coatings applied to plastic parts used in vehicle interiors. This standard ensures that interior components meet specific standards in terms of durability, appearance, and resistance to various environmental factors.

Key aspects of this standard are:

• Color and gloss evaluation: Evaluation of the visual appearance of coated parts to ensure consistency and quality.
• Test procedures: Evaluations for scratch resistance, chemical resistance (e.g. to sunscreens or drinks) and abrasion resistance.
• Compliance with standards: Tests are carried out in accordance with international standards such as “ISO 3668 Paints and varnishes - Visual comparison of paint colour” and “ISO 2813 Paints and varnishes - Determination of gloss value at 20 degrees, 60 degrees and 85 degrees”.

This standard recommends special equipment, such as a crocmeter rub fastness tester, to test the colour fastness of coatings to rub, ensuring that they retain their appearance over time.

The DBL 7384 standard is a Mercedes-Benz interior specification focusing on coatings for plastic parts used in vehicle interiors. It is designed to ensure that these coatings meet the stringent quality and performance requirements specific to automotive environments.

The main focus areas of this standard are:

• Surface appearance:
  • Provides consistency of color, gloss levels and texture across interior parts.
  • Visual inspection under controlled lighting conditions.
• Mechanical durability:
  • Wear resistance
  • Scratch resistance
  • Adhesion of the coating to the plastic substrate
• Chemical resistance
  • The coatings must be resistant to contact with sunscreen and hand creams, cleaning agents and beverages such as coffee or cola.
• UV and climate resistance:
  • Resistance to fading or deterioration under UV light and temperature changes.

In terms of test methods, this standard refers to the following international standards:

• Gloss: ISO 2813 Paints and varnishes - Determination of gloss value at 20 degrees, 60 degrees and 85 degrees
• Cross-cut adhesion: ISO 2409 Paints and varnishes - Cross-cut test
• Notch hardness: ISO 2815 Paints and varnishes - Buchholz indentation test

Mercedes-Benz uses this feature to ensure long-lasting aesthetics and durability of interior parts such as instrument panels, trim panels and center consoles, especially in demanding real-world use.

Plastics are increasingly used in the automotive industry to make vehicles safer and more efficient. The average vehicle today consists of 8 percent plastic parts by weight, and considering that plastic can be up to 50 percent lighter than alternative materials, this translates into a high number of plastic parts. Coatings provide these plastic parts with decorative effects, protection, a soft touch, durability, easy-to-clean properties and more, depending on the needs of the substrate. That’s why automotive companies invest in achieving perfect interior coatings and comply with national and international standards.

This standard was essentially replaced by the later published standard "Mercedes-Benz DBL 1302 Interior trim materials - Plastic surface coatings". This new standard includes a test method and quality assessment criteria specifically for the coating of interior plastic parts in the automotive sector.

Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies carried out in a wide range for years, has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. In this context, testing services are also provided to businesses in accordance with the "Mercedes-Benz DBL 7384 Coatings of plastic parts in vehicle interiors" standard.