Group standard TL 52388

Issue 2015-10
Class. No.: 55121

Descriptors: polypropylene, PP, trim panel, vehicle interior, door, tray, pillar, vent insert, center console, door trim
panel, rear window frame, scuff plate, dashboard

Polypropylene for Use in the Vehicle Interior

Material Requirements

9 types: without index, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H

Previous issues
TL 52388: 1991-12, 1994-01, 1995-04, 2001-06, 2002-05, 2005-03, 2011-06, 2013-03

Changes
The following changes have been made to TL 52388: 2013-03:
– Type H changed to PP/PE-TD5
– Type J deleted
– Table 2: Type H revised and type J deleted

1 Scope
This Technical Supply Specification (TL) defines the material requirements for polypropylene used
in trim components for the vehicle interior.
Areas of application:
– TL 52388 e.g., pillar trims and door pockets
– TL 52388-A e.g., tray areas and molded parts with increased toughness
– TL 52388-B e.g., vent inserts
– TL 52388-C e.g., pillar trims with textile fiber appearance
– TL 52388-D e.g., door side trim panels
– TL 52388-E e.g., pillar trims and rear window frames

Always use the latest version of this standard.

This electronically generated standard is authentic and valid without signature. Page 1 of 8
The English translation is believed to be accurate. In case of discrepancies, the German version is alone authoritative and controlling.

Technical responsibility The Standards department

GQL-P/3 Annett Radon Tel.: +49 5361 9 30153
GQL-P/3 Eckart Herrmann Tel.: +49 5361 9 42116 EKDV/4 Stefanie Reiss EKDV
GQL-P Dr. Jiping Liu Tel.: +49 5361 9 41184 Maik Gummert

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be provided to third parties or reproduced without the prior consent of one of the Volkswagen Group’s Standards departments.
© Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft VWNORM-2015-07d
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TL 52388: 2015-10

– TL 52388-F e.g., center console, dashboard, door trim panel, pillar trims, and scuff
plates
– TL 52388-G e.g., center console, dashboard, door trim panel, pillar trims, and scuff
plates
– TL 52388-H e.g., center console, dashboard, door trim panel, pillar trims, and scuff
plates

2 Designation
Sample designation for polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced for the center console:
Polypropylene as per TL 52388-F

3 Requirements

3.1 Basic requirements

Approval of first supply and changes as per VW 01155.
Emission behavior according to VW 50180.
Colorimetric evaluation as per VW 50190
Avoidance of hazardous substances as per VW 91101.
5 finished parts are required for complete testing.

3.2 Types
– TL 52388 polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced; optionally polypropylene, modi‐
fied to resist impact and talc-reinforced
– TL 52388-A polypropylene copolymer
– TL 52388-B polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced
– TL 52388-C polypropylene copolymer with approx. 1% carbon fibers added, talc-rein‐
forced
– TL 52388-D polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced; optionally polypropylene, modi‐
fied to resist impact and talc-reinforced
– TL 52388-E polypropylene copolymer with approx. 1% carbon fibers added, talc-rein‐
forced
– TL 52388-F polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced; optionally polypropylene, modi‐
fied to resist impact and talc-reinforced
– TL 52388-G polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced; optionally polypropylene, modi‐
fied to resist impact and talc-reinforced
– TL 52388-H polypropylene copolymer, talc-reinforced, reduced in weight

3.3 Material
See section 5.1, according to type.
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TL 52388: 2015-10

3.4 Marking as per VDA 260

– TL 52388 > PP/PE-TD20 < or > PP+EPDM-TD20 <
– TL 52388-A > PP/PE <
– TL 52388-B > PP/PE-TD20 <
– TL 52388-C > PP/PE-TD20 <
– TL 52388-D > PP/PE-TD15 < or > PP+EPDM-TD15 <
– TL 52388-E > PP/PE-TD16 <
– TL 52388-F > PP/PE-TD20 < or > PP+EPDM-TD20 <
– TL 52388-G > PP/PE-TD10 < or > PP+EPDM-TD10 <
– TL 52388-H > PP/PE-TD5 <

3.5 Evaluation of the measurement results

The required numerical values apply to each individual measurement.

4 Properties
See table 1 and table 2.

Table 1
No. Property Unit Requirements
TL 52388 TL 52388-A TL 52388-B TL 52388-C TL 52388-D
1 Density as per g/cm 3
1.05 ±0.02 0.910 ±0.02 1.04 ±0.02 1.06 ±0.02 1.02 ±0.02
DIN EN ISO 1183-1,
buoyancy method
2 Ignition residue as per % 20 ±2 – 20 ±2 16 ±2
DIN EN ISO 1172
3 Yield stress as per MPa ≥20 ≥22 ≥15 ≥20
DIN EN ISO 527-2
and section 5.2
4 Elongation under yield stress % ≥4 ≥14 – ≥4
as per DIN EN ISO 527-2
5 Bending modulus of elasticity as per DIN EN ISO 178 and section 5.3
5.1 +23 °C N/mm2 ≥1500 – ≥1200 ≥1100
5.2 -40 °C N/mm 2
– ≤3 000 –
6 Notched impact strength as per kJ/m 2
– – – – ≥25
DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA
7 Notched impact strength as per kJ/m2 ≥14 No fracture ≥8 ≥15 ≥20
DIN EN ISO 179-1 and
section 5.4
8 Impact strength as per kJ/m2 – No fracture
DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eU
9 Impact strength as per kJ/m2 – No fracture
DIN EN ISO 179-1 and
section 5.5
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TL 52388: 2015-10

No. Property Unit Requirements

TL 52388 TL 52388-A TL 52388-B TL 52388-C TL 52388-D
10 Elevated-temperature behavior No change in shape or surface.

24 h at +100 °C
in recirculated air
11 Heat aging test No structural change of the surface, i.e., no decomposition typical of
400 h at +150 °C PP.
see section 5.6
12 High-temperature light exposure Chalking and/or cracking not permissible.
as per PV 1303
12.1 For areas exposed to direct solar Gray-scale level ≥4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02. Color shift is not permis‐
radiation sible.
5 exposure periods
12.2 For areas exposed to indirect so‐ Gray-scale level ≥4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02. Color shift is not permis‐
lar radiation sible.
3 exposure periods
13 Melting temperature as per °C ≥160
DIN EN ISO 3146
14 Low-temperature behavior The finished parts must function properly at low temperatures. Cracks
See section 5.7 or similar damage are not permissible.
15 Ball drop test as per PV 3905 No fracture, no cracking.
Ball drop height (400 ±0.5) mm
16 Flammability as per TL 1010
17 Scratch resistance as per DL ≤1.5 (applies to visible parts or parts subject to scratching in the vehicle
PV 3952 interior)
Load: 10 N
18 Mar resistance as per PV 3974 DGG ≤0.6 (applies to visible parts or parts possibly marred by writing in the
vehicle interior)
19 Stress whitening behavior as per No visible stress whitening.
PV 3966
Ball drop height: (300 ±0.5) mm
(requirement applies only to visi‐
ble parts in vehicle interior or if
specified in the drawing)
20 Tack as per PV 1306 OK, i.e., no visible or tangible tackiness.

Table 2
No. Property Unit Requirements
TL 52388-E TL 52388-F TL 52388-G TL 52388-H
1 Density as per DIN EN ISO 1183-1, g/cm 3
1.02 ±0.02 1.04 ±0.02 0.98 ±0.02 0.95 ±0.02
buoyancy method
2 Ignition residue as per % 16 ±2 20 ±2 10 ±2 6 ±2
DIN EN ISO 1172
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TL 52388: 2015-10

No. Property Unit Requirements

TL 52388-E TL 52388-F TL 52388-G TL 52388-H
3 Yield stress as per DIN EN ISO 527-2 MPa ≥15 ≥15
and section 5.2
4 Elongation under yield stress % ≥4 ≥4
as per DIN EN ISO 527-2
5 Bending modulus of elasticity as per DIN EN ISO 178 and section 5.3
5.1 +23 °C N/mm2 ≥1200 ≥1100 ≥1300 ≥1000
5.2 -40 °C N/mm2 ≤3 000 –
6 Notched impact strength as per kJ/m2 ≥25 ≥15 ≥30 ≥25
DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eA
7 Notched impact strength as per kJ/m2 ≥15 ≥20 -
DIN EN ISO 179-1 and section 5.4
8 Impact strength as per kJ/m2 No fracture – No fracture
DIN EN ISO 179-1/1eU
9 Impact strength as per kJ/m2 No fracture –
DIN EN ISO 179-1 and section 5.5
10 Elevated-temperature behavior No change in shape or surface.

24 h at +100 °C
in recirculated air
11 Heat aging test No structural change of the surface, i.e., no decomposition typi‐
400 h at +150 °C cal for PP.
see section 5.6
12 High-temperature light exposure as Chalking and/or cracking not permissible.
per PV 1303
12.1 For areas exposed to direct solar ra‐ Gray-scale level ≥4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02. Color shift is not
diation permissible.
5 exposure periods
12.2 For areas exposed to indirect solar Gray-scale level ≥4 as per DIN EN 20105-A02. Color shift is not
radiation permissible.
3 exposure periods
13 Melting temperature as per °C ≥160
DIN EN ISO 3146
14 Low-temperature behavior The finished parts must function properly at low temperatures.
See section 5.7 Cracks or similar damage are not permissible.
15 Ball drop test as per PV 3905 No fracture, no cracking.
Ball drop height (400 ±0.5) mm
16 Flammability As per TL 1010
17 Scratch resistance as per PV 3952 DL ≤1.5 (applies to visible parts or parts subject to scratching in the
Load: 10 N vehicle interior)
18 Mar resistance as per PV 3974 DGG ≤0.6 (applies to visible parts or parts possibly marred by writing
in the vehicle interior)
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TL 52388: 2015-10

No. Property Unit Requirements

TL 52388-E TL 52388-F TL 52388-G TL 52388-H
19 Stress whitening behavior as per No visible stress whitening.
PV 3966
Ball drop height: (300 ±0.5) mm (re‐
quirement applies only to visible parts
in vehicle interior or if specified in the
drawing)
20 Tack as per PV 1306 OK, i.e., no visible or tangible tackiness.

5 Notes on testing

5.1 Material
The identity test is performed by infrared spectroscopy.

5.2 Yield stress

Tensile test as per DIN EN ISO 527-2, specimen 5A, test speed v = 50 mm/min ±10 %.

5.3 Bending modulus of elasticity

3-point bending test: measured in standard climate or at -40 °C in constant-temperature chamber.
Specimen: 50 mm x 10 mm x product thickness (up to max. 4 mm); distance between supports: 40
mm.

5.4 Notched impact strength

If for reasons concerning equipment and/or specimen size and shape a test as per table 1, con‐
sec. no. 6 or table 2, consec. no. 6 cannot be performed, the following procedure may be applied
instead:
Impact strength test (broadside impact) as per DIN EN ISO 179-1, but with: specimen length of
(50 ±1) mm, width of (6 ±0.2) mm, thickness matching the thickness of the finished product (up to a
max. of 4 mm); distance between supports: 40 mm; test equipment: 4J pendulum impact tester
(e.g., type 5102 by Zwick).
A 0.8 mm wide, U-shaped notch is applied on the broad side of the specimens. The notch depth is
1/3 of the specimen thickness. The edges outlining the notch root must have a curvature radius of
< 0.1 mm.
Specimens prepared from molded parts with one-sided graining or painted molded parts are to be
notched on the grained or painted side and placed on the support in such a way that the center of
the notch is exactly in the center of the striking plane and the notch faces away from the direction
of impact.
However, this must be agreed upon between the component supplier and the responsible laborato‐
ry.
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TL 52388: 2015-10

5.5 Impact strength

If for reasons concerning equipment and/or specimen size and shape a test as per table 1, con‐
sec. no. 8 or table 2, consec. no. 8 cannot be performed, the following procedure may be applied
instead:
Impact strength test (broadside impact) as per DIN EN ISO 179-1, but with: specimen length of
(50 ±1) mm, width of (6 ±0.2) mm, thickness matching the thickness of the finished product (up to a
max. of 4 mm); distance between supports: 40 mm; test equipment: 4J pendulum impact tester
(e.g., type 5102 by Zwick).
Specimens taken from molded parts with one-sided graining or painted molded parts must be
placed on the supports of the pendulum impact tester in such a way that the grained or painted
side faces the direction of impact.
However, this must be agreed upon between the component supplier and the responsible laborato‐
ry.

5.6 Heat aging

Continuous forced-air aging at (+150 ±1) °C. The test is to be performed preferably on whole fin‐
ished parts. It is permissible to perform this test on finished part sections. The specimen has em‐
brittled if it exhibits signs of disintegration typical for decomposed PP at any point (material starts to
crumble).

5.7 Low-temperature behavior

Low-temperature aging of at least one finished part.
Aging temperature (-30 ±2) °C; aging duration (22 +2) h.

6 Applicable documents
The following documents cited in this standard are necessary to its application.
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; Exposure Test of Passenger Compartment Com‐

ponents
PV 1306 Non-Metallic Materials; Exposure Test for Determining the Tackiness of
Polypropylene Parts
PV 3905 Organic Materials; Ball Drop Test
PV 3952 Plastic Components for the Vehicle Interior; Scratch Resistance Test
PV 3966 PP Components; Stress-Whitening Behavior (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
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TL 52388: 2015-10

VW 01155 Vehicle Parts; Approval of First Supply and Changes

VW 50180 Components in the Vehicle Interior; Emission Behavior
VW 50190 Interior Trim Components; Metrological Evaluation of Color and Gloss
Level; Visual Evaluation of Chrome Surfaces
VW 91101 Environmental Standard for Vehicles; Vehicle Parts, Materials, Operat‐
ing Fluids; Avoidance of Hazardous Substances
DIN EN 20105-A02 Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part A02: Grey scale for assessing
change in colour
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 pyknometer method and titration meth‐
od
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
VDA 260 Components of motor vehicles - Marking of material