1、Designation: B320 60 (Reapproved 2013) Endorsed by AmericanElectroplaters SocietyEndorsed by NationalAssociation of Metal FinishersStandard Practice forPreparation of Iron Castings for Electroplating1This standard is issued under the fixed designation B320; the number immediately following the desig
2、nation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice is intended to as
3、sist electroplaters inestablishing and maintaining a satisfactory pre-electroplatingcycle for malleable iron, gray iron, nodular iron, and white ironcastings. It is also intended to indicate certain foundry practiceswhich will facilitate subsequent finishing. Most of the practicesthat follow have be
4、en based on experience with malleable andgray iron. However, since they are related to the other forms,the same practices will probably apply. Nodular iron is alsoknown as spheroidal or ductile iron, which is defined as castiron with the graphite substantially in spherical shape andsubstantially fre
5、e of flake graphite.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to
6、 use. Specific precau-tionary statements are given in 2.1.2. Reagents2.1 Purity of ReagentsAll acids and chemicals used in thispractice are technical grade. Diluted acid solutions are basedupon the following assay materials:Hydrochloric acid (HCl): 31 mass %, density 1.16g/mLHydrofluoric acid (HF):
7、47 mass %, density 1.186g/mLSulfuric acid (H2SO4): 93 mass %, density 1.83g/mL(WarningUse hydrofluoric acid with extreme care.)(Warning Sulfuric acid should be slowly added to theapproximate amount of water required with rapid mixing, andthen after cooling, diluted to exact volume.)2.2 Purity of Wat
8、erOrdinary industrial or potable watermay be used for preparing solutions and rinsing.3. Foundry Practices3.1 The seacoal content of the molding and facing sandsshould be maintained at the maximum practicable limits tominimize the occlusion of sand in the surfaces of the castings.3.2 Upon removal fr
9、om the molds, castings should besubjected to an abrading action (such as tumbling, grit blasting,or shot blasting) to remove as much as practicable of theoccluded molding sand. Residual sand and scale may beremoved, if necessary, by treatment in various proprietarydescaling baths. These are usually
10、based on fused caustic soda,some of which use chemical oxidizing or reducing agents andothers employ electrochemical action as well. This is particu-larly important in the case of castings that will be annealed, toprevent the burning on of sand during this operation. Castingsthat will be warped or d
11、amaged by a blasting operation may bepickled in a solution containing 200 to 250 mL/L of sulfuricacid to remove occluded molding sand. See Warning state-ment in 2.1.3.3 Annealed castings should be given an additional abrad-ing as described in 3.2 to remove any scale that may have beenformed, as well
12、 as graphitic carbon that may be present at thesurface.4. Nature of Cleaning4.1 The preparation of ferrous castings for electroplatinginvolves the following basic steps in the order named:4.1.1 The removal of oils, greases, residual polishing andbuffing compounds (if any), and shop dirt by cleaning,
13、4.1.2 The removal of oxide films and scales and the loos-ening of surface carbon by pickling or by salt bath treatment(see 3.2),4.1.3 The removal of smut caused by 4.1.2, and4.1.4 Activation for electroplating.4.2 Where excessive amounts of cutting oils used in ma-chining operations are present, it
14、may be necessary to precleanthe parts before they reach the electroplating room. This mayrequire the use of organic solvents, vapor degreasers, washingmachines of the power-spray type, emulsion cleaners, orsimple alkaline soak tanks. As short a time as possible shouldelapse between this precleaning
15、and the preplating cleaningcycle so as to prevent rusting of the parts. Where control of the1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallicand Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 onPre Treatment.Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2013.
16、Published December 2013. Originallyapproved in 1960. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B310 60(2008). DOI:10.1520/B0320-60R13.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States1interval is not possible, parts should be left with
17、a slightlyalkaline or very thin organic film.5. Cleaning Solutions and Equipment5.1 The various solutions used for the treatment of mal-leable and gray iron castings should be maintained by chemicalanalysis so far as is practicable, such as determining the freeacid and iron concentrations of the aci
18、d baths and using testsrecommended by the manufacturer, the effective componentsof the proprietary cleaning solutions.5.2 All solutions should be discarded before they lose theireffectiveness, based on tests and experience.5.3 When the amount of soil is excessive, particularly whereno precleaning is
19、 done, it may be desirable to double thecleaning and pickling facilities. Thus, while the first of any twoparticular solutions becomes heavily contaminated, the secondremains relatively clean and effective for further use. When thefirst of a pair of solutions is discarded, it is replaced by thesecon
20、d solution and a fresh second solution is prepared. Thissystem also reduces the possible carry-over of contaminantssuch as oil and grease into subsequent solutions.5.4 Where doubling the facilities is impossible orimpracticable, similar economies may be obtained to a degreeby providing cleaner and p
21、ickle tanks with overflow dams,sumps and pumps with which the solution may be recirculated.The pump intake should be located approximately half-waydown the sump to preclude returning either settled-out soliddirt or surface oil and grease to the processing tank. The outletshould be near the bottom of
22、 the processing tank at the endopposite to the overflow dam so as to create some solutionturbulence (for mechanical scrubbing benefits) and to ensureflow of contaminated solution to the dam.5.5 In electrified tanks removable electrodes should beemployed in preference to using the tank as an electrod
23、e, tofacilitate inspection and cleaning. To ensure good circuitry,positive contacts such as an inverted V hook for round barsshould be used. In alkaline cleaner tanks, where clean contactis often a problem, submerged oversized steel tank rods areeffective.5.6 All immersion rinse tanks should be equi
24、pped withdam-type overflows to ensure skimming of oil, grease, andlight dirt from the surface of the water. Water inlets should beat the bottom of the tank, and should be of a size sufficient toprovide an adequate flow of water. It is desirable that sub-merged inlet pipes be equipped with syphon-bre
25、akers (asrequired by law in many areas) not only to prevent thebackflow of contaminated water into the mains, but also toproduce a beneficial turbulence or scrubbing action due to theair introduced with the water. Agitation by means of low-pressure, oil-free air through perforated pipes at the botto
26、m ofthe tank may also be used.5.7 Having the heating coils on the working side of tankswill assure a working surface which is free of accumulatedgrease and oil.6. Procedure for Racked Parts6.1 The following cycle may generally be used for rackedparts which will subsequently be electroplated in still
27、 tanks,semiautomatic equipment, and full-automatic equipment:6.1.1 PrecleaningWhen castings have been subjected tomachining, polishing, buffing, or similar finishing processes, itis desirable and frequently essential that lubricants and finish-ing compounds be removed by precleaning immediately fol-
28、lowing such operations. This is especially important when thelubricants contain unsaturated oils which, upon air oxidation,form films which are extremely difficult to remove. Preclean-ing methods as listed in 4.2 may be employed.6.2 Soak CleaningIn the event precleaning of a heavilysoiled part is im
29、possible or impracticable, soak cleaning toloosen oils and greases is recommended. The bath may beeither an alkaline solution of such concentration as recom-mended by the supplier, and operated at a temperature as closeto boiling as possible, or an emulsion-type cleaner operated asspecified by the s
30、upplier. In either case, agitation of thesolution by air or solution pumping, or movement of the part,will prove beneficial. The time may be 5 min or more.6.3 RinseIf the soak cleaner used is incompatible with thesubsequent cleaner, a rinse is indicated. The supplier willnormally suggest whether it
31、is to be warm or cold, although awarm rinse (60C) is usually desirable following alkaline soakcleaning. In any case, agitation of the rinse water is desirable;and, in the case of cold-water rinses, a spray upon leaving thetank is beneficial. The time of rinsing depends in part upon theshape of the p
32、art, but should be no less than 10 s.6.4 Anodic CleaningThe part is made the anode in asolution of a properly compounded alkaline cleaner of aconcentration recommended by the supplier. The cleanershould be free-rinsing, and of high conductivity to permit acurrent density of 6 to 10 A/dm2at a tank po
33、tential of 6 to 9 V.The solution temperature should be from 90 to 100C, and thecleaning time from 1 to 2 min.6.5 RinseThe supplier of a proprietary cleaner will usuallyindicate whether his product rinses more freely in warm or coldwater. In general, rinsing should be done as described in 6.3,but pre
34、ferably in a separate tank. Where practicable to do so,all rinses should be double rinses; that is, two separate rinses insuccession, with the second cascading into the first for watereconomy.6.6 Acid PicklingThis stage of the cycle is the mostcritical, and its operating conditions are dependent on
35、the typeof electroplating to follow. Most of the difficulties in electro-plating of gray iron and malleable iron castings are caused bythe free graphitic carbon, flake or nodular, which is present atthe surface of the part. If the subsequent electroplating will bedone under conditions causing suffic
36、iently high hydrogenovervoltage (most acid solutions, and such alkaline solutions ascopper, cadmium, or tin), a brief dip (less than 15 s) in a roomtemperature solution containing 200 mL/L of hydrochloric acidor 50 to 100 mL/L of sulfuric acid is usually adequate. SeeWarning in 2.1. If the electropl
37、ating will be done in an alkalinesolution of low hydrogen overvoltage such as cyanide zinc,B320 60 (2013)2anodic treatment in acid to remove surface carbon is preferred.This is done by making the part the anode in a solutioncontaining 250 to 350 mL/L of sulfuric acid for at least 30 s,preferably mor
38、e, at a voltage sufficient to provide a currentdensity of at least 10 A/dm2. See Warning in 2.1. A black filmof carbon smut will form during the first 15 to 30 s, then thepart will become passive and the oxygen evolved on the partwill remove the carbon by a combination of scrubbing andoxidation, lea
39、ving the casting relatively clean.6.7 RinseThe part should be rinsed in cold water asdescribed in 6.3, but in a separate tank.6.8 Anodic CleaningThe casting should be subjected toanodic cleaning as described in 6.4, using either the same typeof proprietary cleaner or a room temperature solution cons
40、ist-ing of sodium cyanide (30 to 45 g/L) and sodium hydroxide (30to 45 g/L).6.9 RinseThe part should be rinsed in cold water asdescribed in 6.3, but in a separate tank.6.10 ActivationIf electroplating is to be done in alkalinesolutions, such as cadmium, copper, tin, or zinc, no furthertreatment shou
41、ld be necessary. For nearly neutral or acidelectroplating processes, however, parts should be immersedfor 5 to 15 s in a room-temperature solution containing 50 to100 mL of sulfuric acid. See Warning in 2.1.6.11 RinseActivated parts should be rinsed in cold wateras described in 6.3, but in a separat
42、e tank.7. Variation in Procedure for Parts to be Racked7.1 Where parts are subjected to several operations beforeelectroplating, such as machining, forming, polishing, etc.,thought should be given to possible precleaning betweenoperations.7.2 Mineral oils, particularly in recesses, are best removedb
43、y vapor degreasing.7.3 Lubricating oils, buffing compounds greases, and thelike, are best removed by anodic electrocleaning as describedin 6.4. Heavy deposits of dried-on buffing compound may bemore effectively removed by cathodic cleaning under similaroperating conditions.7.4 Castings that are heav
44、ily rusted can be pickled in asolution containing 50 to 100 mL/L of sulfuric acid and asuitable inhibitor to prevent excessive attack of the basis metal.See Warning in 2.1. Preferably, the solution should beoperated at 65 to 95C, and the time should be as required toremove the rust.7.5 Very heavy sc
45、ale can be removed by making the workanodic in a solution as described in 7.4, but with a suitablewetting agent instead of the inhibitor.7.6 For castings from which molding sand has not beencompletely removed by the abrading processes described in 3.2and 3.3, a dip in a water solution consisting of
46、125 mL/L ofsulfuric acid and 125 mL/L of hydrofluoric acid at 20 to 30Cmay be employed. See Warning in 2.1.7.7 A suggested alternative for most of the cycle describedin Section 6 is the use of one of the several proprietaryprocesses involving molten caustics, hydrides, or alkaline salts,both with an
47、d without electrolysis. The suppliers of theseprocesses should be consulted for details.8. Procedure for Parts to Be Processed in Bulk8.1 Castings to be cleaned in cylinders other than those inwhich the electroplating will be done should be processedthrough a cycle as follows:8.1.1 Tumble CleaningPa
48、rts are cleaned by tumblingwithout current in a solution of properly compounded alkalinecleaner of 45 to 90 g/L at a temperature of 90 to 100C for atleast 5 min.8.1.2 RinseRinse for at least 1 min by tumbling in warmwater, preferably agitated and overflowing.8.1.3 Acid PickleTumble the parts for at
49、least 1 min in asolution of 250 to 350 mL/L of sulfuric acid at 65C.8.1.4 RinseTumble in cold water, preferably agitated andfreely overflowing, for at least 1 min.8.1.5 ActivationParts to be electroplated in acid solutionsmay be transferred to electroplating cylinders without furtherprocessing. Parts to be electroplated in cyanide solutionsshould be tumbled for at least 1 min in a room temperaturesolution consisting of 15 to 30 g/L of sodium cyanide and 15to 30 g/L of sodium hydroxide.8.1.6 RinseParts activated as in 8.1.5 should be tumbledin cold water as
