Paint Testing for Vehicle Exteriors – For the Highest Standards of Quality and Durability
Paint finishes and coating systems on vehicle exteriors are subjected to stress throughout their entire service life. Their appearance, durability, and functionality must be maintained not only when new but also over the long term. Since it is not possible to wait for natural aging processes to occur, paint testing replicates these stresses in reproducible, accelerated procedures. EDAG Testing supports the evaluation of paint finishes and coating systems with comprehensive testing and state-of-the-art measurement technology—in accordance with standards, reproducible, and OEM-compliant.
Environmental Simulation, Weathering, and Durability
The relevant stresses affecting paint finishes and coating systems rarely occur in isolation; most often, several act simultaneously. Environmental influences such as aging due to heat and fluctuating climate place stress on a vehicle’s coating, posing the risk of material embrittlement, cracking, or loss of gloss. Condensation and hydrolysis lead to effects such as blistering and delamination. Salt spray attacks painted surfaces and destroys adhesion to metal, which in turn leads to abrasive wear and rust formation. UV radiation is a key factor in the aging of organic coatings and manifests as yellowing, chalking, and color change. Added to this is contact with a variety of substances—such as chemicals, operating fluids, or creams—which, depending on their composition, can cause the paint to swell, soften, or become dull.
Paint Testing
At EDAG Testing, we use our equipment to perform all of these tests in an accelerated manner and under controlled conditions. These tests are conducted on plastic and metal components in accordance with national, international, and OEM-specific standards:
- DBL 1300: Coating and Painting of Plastic Parts for Vehicle Exteriors
- DBL 1551: Climate resistance, media resistance, and aging of components and materials in vehicle interiors
- TL 211: Coating of exterior plastic parts
- TL 226: Painting and coating in vehicle interiors
- GS 94007: Painted plastic parts
- TM 5010: Paints and polymer substrates in vehicle interiors
- etc.
Adhesion and Mechanical Resistance
Whether paint finishes or coating systems can withstand these stresses depends on how well they adhere to the substrate. This adhesion can be tested using three established methods:
- The multi-stone impact test according to DIN EN ISO 20567-1 evaluates resistance to sudden, localized stress caused by stone impact.
- The steam jet test according to DIN EN ISO 16925 is performed using a high-pressure water jet, which specifically exposes areas of the coating with insufficient adhesion.
- The cross-cut test according to DIN EN ISO 2409 etches a grid-like pattern into the coating and inspects the cut edges for spalling.
Mechanical abrasion is also part of everyday vehicle use: Regular wear and tear causes fine damage that manifests as a loss of gloss and reduced surface quality. We evaluate abrasion and scratch resistance using the Crockmeter, ABREX, and the AMTEC Kistler laboratory car wash system.
Measurement Technology and Compliance with Standards
As informative as stress tests may be, what ultimately matters is that their results can be objectively quantified. Optical quality must be measurable, especially when separately painted components need to match the body color. Our range of measurements therefore includes gloss, visual color matching, appearance evaluation via Wavescan, color measurement in the 45°c:0° and d:8° geometries—including multi-angle color measurement—as well as haze, transmission, and coating thickness.
Your Advantage with EDAG
With comprehensive testing equipment, many years of experience in vehicle development, and accredited testing methods, EDAG Testing supports the validation of durable, high-quality surfaces.
If you have any questions about conducting a paint test or specific application scenarios, please feel free to contact us.
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