Group standard TL 598

Issue 2016-03
Class. No.: 55126

Descriptors: decorative film, film, decorative material, nameplate, adhesive label, bonding behavior, vehicle
equipment

Decorative Film
Component Requirements

3 types: without suffix, A, B

Previous issues
TL 598: 1973-11, 1984-06, 1984-11, 1986-01, 1988-11, 1991-05, 1993-02, 1995-06, 2001-04,
2003-01

Changes
The following changes have been made to TL 598: 2003-01:
– Standard completely revised

1 Scope
This Technical Supply Specification (TL) specifies the component-related material requirements for
decorative films and for bonding behavior with respect to relevant substrates. They are used as
decorative elements on the exterior of the vehicle equipment.

2 Designation
Decorative film as per TL 598
or
Decorative film as per TL 598-A
or
Decorative film as per TL 598-B

Always use the latest version of this standard.

This electronically generated standard is authentic and valid without signature. Page 1 of 9
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/1 Stephan Meier Tel.: +49 5361 9 36271
GQL-P/1 Dr. Claudia Kühlmeyer-Freise Tel.: +49 5361 9 26163 EKDD/2 Stefanie Reiss EKDD
GQL-P Dr. Jiping Liu Tel.: +49 5361 9 41184 Thomas Behrens

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 598: 2016-03

3 Requirements

3.1 Basic requirements

Approval of first supply and changes as per Volkswagen standard VW 01155.
Installation as per VW 50113.
Avoidance of hazardous substances as per VW 91101.
20 pieces of decorative film (German standard paper size A4) are required for complete testing.

3.2 Delivery form

Decorative films are delivered in the form of punched or plotter-cut shapes with protective films on
their surfaces as per the corresponding drawings.
The film must be free of flaws such as blisters and inclusions. The back must be evenly coated
with adhesive.
The protective film of the adhesive must protect against soiling and also from forming unintended
adhesive bonds. The adhesive must be easily removable from the finished protective film.

3.3 Shelf life

At least 12 months at temperatures from -5 °C to 30 °C.

3.4 Measurements
Unless otherwise specified, measurements and evaluations are carried out after 1-h acclimatiza‐
tion in the standard climate as per VW 50554-23/50-2.

3.5 Design and polymer base materials

– TL 598 PVC-based decorative film, coated on one side with acrylic-ester-based ad‐
hesive.
– TL 598-A PUR-based decorative film, coated on one side with acrylic-ester-based ad‐
hesive.
– TL 598-B PET-based decorative film, coated on one side with acrylic-ester-based ad‐
hesive.

3.6 Characteristics of the decorative films

3.6.1 Appearance
The design of decorative film surfaces is realized either by direct coloring or subsequently by color
printing (e.g. screen print) as per the released design sample.

3.6.2 Thickness (without adhesive)

As per drawing.

3.7 Properties
See table 1 and table 2.
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TL 598: 2016-03

Table 1
Requirements (for all types)
Film applied on
No. Property Unit
Paint-coated sheet or
Film
glass
1 Adhesive properties; see section 4.1
1.1 Relative peel resistance; see section 4.2
1.1.1 As-received condition N/cm ≥ 3.0 ≥ 2.0
1.1.2 After heat aging
N/cm ≥ 2.7 ≥ 1.8
300 h at 90 °C in recirculated air
1.1.3 After heat and humidity aging
N/cm ≥ 2.7 ≥ 1.8
300 h at 70 °C and 100+0
-6 % relative humidity

1.1.4 After aging in

condensation atmosphere with constant humidi‐
N/cm ≥ 2.7 ≥ 1.8
ty
as per DIN EN ISO 6270-2, 300 h
1.1.5 After contact with FAM 2 test fuel
N/cm ≥ 2.7 ≥ 1.8
as per DIN 51604-2, 1 min
1.1.6 After contact with premium unleaded gasoline
N/cm ≥ 2.7 ≥ 1.8
as per DIN EN 228, 5 min
1.1.7 After contact with diesel fuel
N/cm ≥ 2.7 ≥ 1.8
as per DIN EN 590, 5 min
2 Low-temperature behavior
see section 4.3 No tearing, no chipping of the decorative film.
Ball drop test, -40 °C; ball drop height 230 mm
3 Abrasion and cleaning behavior; see section 4.4, crockmeter test
3.1 Dry nettle cloth
(pigment-dyed films: load ≥ 200 strokes; printed
films: load ≥ 100 strokes) Minor irreversible damage caused by me‐
3.2 Nettle cloth soaked with chanical loading and/or by effects of the
(pigment-dyed films: load ≥ 140 strokes; printed cleaning agent, and/or visibly perceptible
films: load ≥ 70 strokes) changes to the film surface, similar to the fig‐
ure of a brush abrasion mark as per Test
3.2.1 Paint cleaner
Specification PV 3.3.3, is permissible.
3.2.2 Plastic cleaner
3.2.3 Isopropanol
4 Cleaning behavior
4.1 Tunnel wash resistance VE ≥ 1
Scratch resistance as per PV 3.3.3 VR ≥ 1 after reflow a)
4.1.1 Stone-chip resistance
Characteristic value ≤ 2
see DIN EN ISO 20567-1, method B
Final pressure washer test
Detachment of the film is not permissible.
as per PV 1503A
4.2 Behavior in different climates
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Requirements (for all types)

Film applied on
No. Property Unit
Paint-coated sheet or
Film
glass
4.2.1 Heat aging
Aging in recirculated air for 240 h at (90 ±2) °C
followed by at least 30 min of acclimatization at
room temperature
4.2.2 Heat aging
Aging in recirculated air for 30 min at No visibly perceptible changes to the film
(110 ±2) °C and/or its surface.
followed by at least 30 min of acclimatization at
room temperature
4.2.3 After aging in condensation atmosphere with
constant humidity
as per DIN EN ISO 6270-2, 240 h
4.2.4 Shrinkage behavior after aging Shrinkage after 48 h reconditioning at room
20 cycles as per PV 1200 temperature ≤ 0.5% of the specimen length
specimen size: 250 mm × 30 mm measured in longitudinal direction
5 Lightfastness and weather resistance
5.1 For component surfaces that have an angle of ≥ 60° relative to the horizontal in the as-installed position
5.1.1 Weathering in humid heat
as per PV 3930
(corresponding to Florida),
test duration: 1-year cycle Visible changes to color and gloss are not
5.1.2 Weathering in dry heat permissible.
as per PV 3929
(corresponding to Kalahari and Arizona),
test duration: 1-year cycle
5.2 For component surfaces that are visible from a bird's-eye point of view and have an angle of < 60° relative to the
horizontal in the as-installed position
5.2.1 Weathering in humid heat
as per PV 3930
(corresponding to Florida),
test duration: 2 annual cycles Visible changes to color and gloss are not
5.2.2 Weathering in dry heat permissible.
as per PV 3929
(corresponding to Kalahari and Arizona),
test duration: 2 annual cycles
5.3 For component surfaces that have an angle of ≥ 60° relative to the horizontal in the installation position
5.3.1 Open-air weathering
as per VW 50185
Without complaints
in humid heat (Florida) and in dry heat (Kalahari,
Arizona) for 1 year each.
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TL 598: 2016-03

Requirements (for all types)

Film applied on
No. Property Unit
Paint-coated sheet or
Film
glass
5.4 For component surfaces that are visible from a bird's-eye point of view and have an angle of < 60° relative to the
horizontal in the as-installed position
5.4.1 Open-air weathering
as per VW 50185
Without complaints
in humid heat (Florida) and in dry heat (Kalahari,
Arizona) for 2 years each

a) Reference sheets can be obtained from the "Wolfsburg Paint Shop Planning" department.
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TL 598: 2016-03

Table 2
Requirement (all types)
No. Property Unit Film (as unprocessed goods) with adhesive
protective liner applied
1 Resistance to chemicals
1.1 FAM test fuel
as per DIN 51604-2,
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
10 min at room temperature
1.2 E10 gasoline
as per DIN EN 228 (blend of premium unleaded
gasoline as per DIN EN 228 with 10 volume per‐
cent ethanol p.a.)
and DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
10 min at room temperature
1.3 B7 diesel fuel
as per TL 788-B and
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
Upon agreement with the purchaser's appro‐
10 min at room temperature
priate department, the scope may be reduced
1.4 Isopropanol to the media relevant for the application. The
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A, agreement must be stated in the drawing or
10 min at room temperature Performance Specification.
1.5 5% sodium hydroxide solution (mass percent‐ Evaluation after
age)
1. 1 h at room temperature; if there are
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
changes, perform step 2.
1 h at room temperature
2. 2 h at 60 °C reflow aging;
1.6 10% hydrochloric acid solution (mass percent‐
no visible changes after step 2 permissi‐
age)
ble
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
1 h at room temperature
1.7 10% sulfuric acid solution (mass percentage)
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
1 h at room temperature
1.8 Water
(quality grade 3 as per DIN ISO 3696)
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A,
1 h at 80 °C
1.9 Tree resin
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, appendix "Biological
Substances − Tree Resin," method A,
30 min at 45 °C
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Requirement (all types)

No. Property Unit Film (as unprocessed goods) with adhesive
protective liner applied
1.10 Simulated bird droppings The scope may be restricted to agents that
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, appendix "Biological are pertinent for the application in agreement
Substances − Simulated Bird Droppings," meth‐ with the purchaser's appropriate department.
od A, The agreement must be documented in the
30 min at 45 °C drawing or Performance Specification.
1.11 Plastic cleaner Evaluation after
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A, 1. 1 h at room temperature; if there are
10 min at room temperature changes, perform step 2.
1.12 Glass cleaner (quality and mass ratio 50%/50% 2. 2 h at 60 °C reflow aging;
as per TL 52164)
no visible changes after step 2 permissi‐
as per DIN EN ISO 2812-4, method A
ble
1 h at room temperature

4 Notes on testing

4.1 Bonding behavior

The decorative films are applied onto respective substrates, e.g., onto painted test sheets and/or
decorative film. The paint structures in this test must be identical to the paint system components
used at the respective Group production sites. Residue from the test fuels is removed with a clean‐
ing cloth after an exposure time of one minute has elapsed.

4.2 Relative peel resistance

The relevant peel resistance Ps is determined in a peel test apparatus as per DIN EN 1464, with a
traverse speed of 100 mm/min. Testing is performed using a tensile test machine that corresponds
at least to the requirements specified in DIN EN ISO 7500-1 supplement 1. The relevant peel re‐
sistance – which is the average resistance during continuous peeling – must be determined from
the peel test diagram. An area of the peel test diagram from 30% to 90% of the diagram length
must be used for the evaluation.
Number of specimens: 5.

4.3 Low-temperature behavior

Ball drop test as per PV 3905; conditioning: 48 h at -40 °C.

4.4 Abrasion and cleaning behavior

Abrasion test as per PV 3906.
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5 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 1200 Vehicle Parts; Testing of Resistance to Environmental Cycle Test

(+80/-40) °C
PV 1503 Paint Coating of Metallic and Non-Metallic Materials; Pressure Washer
Test
PV 3.3.3 Paints and Varnishes; Scratch Resistance Testing of Clear Coats
PV 3905 Organic Materials; Ball Drop Test
PV 3906 Non-Metallic Planar Materials; Testing of Abrasion Behavior
PV 3929 Non-Metallic Materials; Weathering in Dry, Hot Climate
PV 3930 Non-Metallic Materials; Weathering in Moist, Hot Climate
TL 52164 Window Washer Fluid; Material Requirements
TL 788 Diesel Fuel; Fuel Requirements
VW 01155 Vehicle Parts; Approval of First Supply and Changes
VW 50113 Components with Self-Adhesive Elements; Installation
VW 50185 Vehicle Parts; Resistance to Open-Air Weathering
VW 50554 Standard Atmospheres and Room Temperatures; Requirements on
Standard Atmospheres
VW 91101 Environmental Standard for Vehicles; Vehicle Parts, Materials, Operat‐
ing Fluids; Avoidance of Hazardous Substances
DIN 51604-2 Methanolic FAM testing fluid for polymer materials; composition and re‐
quirements
DIN EN 1464 Adhesives - Determination of peel resistance of adhesive bonds - Float‐
ing roller method
DIN EN 228 Automotive fuels - Unleaded petrol - Requirements and test methods
DIN EN 590 Automotive fuels - Diesel - Requirements and test methods
DIN EN ISO 20567-1 Paints and varnishes - Determination of stone-chip resistance of coat‐
ings - Part 1: Multi-impact testing
DIN EN ISO 2812-4 Paints and varnishes - Determination of resistance to liquids - Part 4:
Spotting methods
DIN EN ISO 6270-2 Paints and varnishes - Determination of resistance to humidity - Part 2:
Procedure for exposing test specimens in condensation-water atmos‐
pheres
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DIN EN ISO 7500-1 Metallic materials - Verification of static uniaxial testing machines - Part
supplement 1 1: Tension/ compression testing machines, Vertification and calibration
of the force-measuring system - General for requirements, verification
and calibration of tension, compression and flexion testing machines
DIN ISO 3696 Water for analytical laboratory use; specification and test methods