PSA B15 4510 Coating of Plastic Parts by Vacuum Metallization

The standard “PSA B15 4510 Coating of plastic parts by vacuum metallization”, developed by the French automobile company Renault, describes the requirements that coatings obtained by vacuum metallization of molded plastic parts must meet. This type of coating is mainly used in lighting functions as a light reflector. It can also be used to decorate the interior and exterior components of vehicles.

The metal finish should have a good uniform presentation, without open areas or scratches, visible blemishes or bubbles or other defects.

If a protective varnish is used, it must be applied in a regular layer without leaving open areas and effectively guarantee the metal coating against corrosion or mechanical damage. The part must be flexible enough to withstand all deformations to which it may be subjected before or during assembly without cracking.

The requirements in this standard are explained under the following headings:

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• Reaction to heat in a non-radiant dry oven (after 90 hours at a temperature of 1 degrees plus/minus 22 degree). This requirement is evaluated according to the standard “PSA D45 1234 Parts containing plastic elements - Reaction to heat in a non-radiant dry oven”.
• Cold resistance (after 30 hours at minus 1 degrees plus/minus 22 degree and return to ambient temperature).
• Behaviour against humidity (internal parts after 40 hours at 2 degrees plus/minus 48 degrees, external parts after 40 hours at 2 degrees plus/minus 96 degrees). This requirement is assessed according to the standard “PSA D27 1327 Paint coatings - Resistance to water immersion (Ford tank)”.
• Colour fastness against the Xenotest device (xenotest is a large capacity light fastness tester with a test area of ​​2310 cm2, manufactured exclusively for textile testing). This requirement is assessed according to the standard “PSA D47 1431 Materials and parts for the passenger compartment - Appearance and behaviour to artificial light at high and medium temperatures (colour fastness)”.
• Colour fastness to rubbing (to water, ethanol, heptane (a: degradation b: colour transfer)). This requirement is assessed according to the standard “PSA D45 1010 Polymer passenger compartment interior and exterior materials and parts - Colour fastness to rubbing”.
• Reference material for rolling abrasion resistance belts: type a (period during which the substrate must not be visible). This requirement is assessed according to the standard “PSA D14 1425 Rolling abrasion resistance test”.
• The crosshatch test is for scratch-free adhesive tape only. This requirement is evaluated according to the standard “PSA D25 1075 Paint coatings - Crosshatch test”.

The special conditions in the standard are described as follows:

• The part must be installed in a free state, tests must be carried out on a part assembly if the coating is subjected to stress due to assembly.
• The piece, or alternatively a test specimen cut from it, is immersed in distilled water at 60 degrees plus/minus 1 degree and contains a wetting agent.
• This test only concerns parts in the “wear” category and must be performed on a section of the part.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has carried out for businesses in various sectors, it also provides testing services defined in the “PSA B15 4510 Coating of plastic parts by vacuum metallization” standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.