Method for producing a trim element with a genuine carbon appearance

A method for producing a trim element for vehicles which has a genuine carbon appearance, comprising a sized carbon fiber layer which is arranged on an exposed side of the trim element and is visible from the outside, and which is made of a fiber structure composed of prefabricated carbon fibers with interstices, comprising the following process steps:

• wet impregnating the prefabricated, sized carbon fiber layer with an aqueous polymer dispersion based on polyurethane, acrylate or polyvinyl acetate or a mixture thereof, so that the polymer dispersion penetrates at least partially into the carbon fiber layer, increasing the suitability thereof for penetration of a coating into the interstices of the fiber structure of the carbon layer, wherein the wet impregnation alters the surface structure of the carbon fibers or carbon fiber filaments of the prefabricated, sized carbon fiber layer, so that the coating becomes cross-linked with the carbon fiber layer and no air pockets remain,
• drying the wet impregnated carbon fiber layer,
• affixing the carbon fiber layer onto a trim element support, aligned toward the exposed side of the trim element,
• applying a coating layer to the carbon fiber layer that is arranged on the trim element support, in order to form a transparent surface layer on the exposed side of the trim element, with coating material penetrating into the interstices of the carbon fiber layer and wherein for wet impregnation, the carbon fiber layer is passed through a dispersion bath as an integral part of the production process,
• wherein the carbon fiber layer is mounted onto the trim element support by lamination, and the carbon fiber layer additionally comprises a supporting fabric.