- Customer: A Coating Manufacturer for New Energy Vehicle Interior Components
- Cooperation Model: ODM Customized Development
- Final Application: New Energy Vehicle Interior Components (Steel Substrate)
- Product: Chrome Effect Silver Resin
Customer: A Challenging Yet Real-World Requirement
For new energy vehicle interior components, chrome coating requirements have long gone beyond simply looking good. During daily use, residues from hand creams, sunscreens and other cosmetic products on drivers’ hands can frequently come into contact with high-touch areas such as steering wheels, center consoles and door handles.
If the chrome coating system does not have sufficient chemical resistance, problems may occur — from whitening and discoloration to blistering, softening and peeling. These failures can directly affect the perceived quality of the vehicle and the overall brand image.
This was exactly the challenge faced by our customer.
The application requirements were:
- Substrate: Steel sheet
- Coating system: One-component (1K) system
- Dilution ratio: 1:2.5
- Baking cure: 180℃ / 150℃ × 30 minutes
The performance requirements focused on two key aspects:
1. Excellent Resistance to Hand Cream and Cosmetic Chemicals
The metallic coating needed to withstand contact with NIVEA and Snoopy hand creams without:
- Color change
- Blistering
- Softening
- Other abnormal surface defects
2. Strong Adhesion Performance
The metallic coating needed to achieve excellent adhesion to the steel substrate, with no peeling during cross-cut adhesion testing.
Challenge: Achieving Chemical Resistance on Steel Substrates
Steel is one of the commonly used substrates for automotive interior components. However, achieving both excellent hand cream resistance and strong adhesion on steel surfaces is a significant technical challenge.
Hand creams contain ingredients such as oils, emulsifiers and surfactants. With prolonged contact, these substances may penetrate into and swell the coating film, causing whitening, softening or even coating failure.
For automotive interior applications, hand cream resistance testing is typically conducted according to standards such as HG/T 5180-2017, which defines strict requirements for chemical resistance performance.
International automotive standards, including Mercedes-Benz DBL 7384, also specify that interior coatings should withstand exposure to daily chemical substances such as hand creams and sunscreens.
Boya Metallic Coating Solution: A-8513 Chrome Effect Resin Successfully Passes Two Performance Tests
To address the dual challenges of steel substrate adhesion and cosmetic chemical resistance, Boya Chemical developed a customized solution based on A-8513 Chrome Effect Silver Resin.
The key design concepts include:
1. High Crosslink Density to Resist Chemical Penetration
The A-8513 metallic resin system features a high crosslink density. After curing, the chrome coating forms a dense three-dimensional network structure that effectively prevents oils, emulsifiers and other cosmetic ingredients from penetrating into the coating film.
This helps avoid issues such as:
- Whitening
- Softening
- Surface degradation
2. Strong Adhesion with Class 0 Cross-Cut Performance
The resin formulation was specifically optimized for:
- Steel substrate wettability
- Interfacial bonding strength
- Coating-substrate compatibility
This allows the chrome coating to form a strong bond with the steel surface, achieving a Class 0 rating in cross-cut adhesion testing.
3. Process Compatibility Without Production Line Adjustment
The one-component coating system was designed to perfectly match the customer’s existing coating process:
- 1K coating system
- 1:2.5 dilution ratio
- 180℃ / 150℃ × 30 minutes baking cure
No changes to the customer’s production parameters were required.
Customer Feedback: From Doubt to “This Actually Works”
After receiving the samples, the customer’s technical team conducted strict evaluations, and the results exceeded expectations.
1. Cosmetic Resistance Performance
“We tested the chrome coating with both NIVEA and Snoopy hand creams. There was no discoloration, blistering or softening after testing. We were very satisfied with the result. Previously, we had tested several resin systems from other suppliers — some showed whitening issues, while others experienced adhesion problems. Your product passed successfully in the first trial.”
2. Adhesion Performance
“We performed the cross-cut adhesion test twice. The edges remained smooth and not a single square peeled off. Achieving this adhesion level on steel substrates demonstrates that the resin system has excellent wettability and bonding capability with metal surfaces.”
3. Overall Cooperation Experience
“From technical communication to sample delivery, the process was very efficient. Every step was followed up professionally, and we received timely support throughout the project.”
Project Progress & Future Cooperation
The A-8513 sample successfully passed customer evaluation on the first trial. The customer highly recognized both the product performance and cooperation efficiency, and the project has entered the next stage of commercial discussion.
For new energy vehicle interior coating applications, achieving both excellent cosmetic resistance and strong adhesion in a single trial represents not only a successful technical solution but also a faster path toward mass production.
If you are facing similar challenges in automotive interior coating applications, Boya Chemical’s R&D experience can help you develop reliable chrome coating solutions and reduce unnecessary trial-and-error during product development.
