1、Designation: B 604 91 (Reapproved 2008)Standard Specification forDecorative Electroplated Coatings of Copper Plus NickelPlus Chromium on Plastics1This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 604; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in
2、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 specification covers the requirements for severalgrades and types of electrodep
3、osited copper plus nickel pluschromium coatings on plateable plastic substrates where ap-pearance, durability and resistance to thermal cycling areimportant to service performance. Five grades of coatings areprovided to correlate with the service conditions under whicheach is expected to provide sat
4、isfactory performance.1.2 This specification covers the requirements for coatingsapplied subsequent to the application of metal film by auto-catalytic deposition or subsequent to the application of anystrike coatings after autocatalytic deposition.1.3 The following caveat pertains only to the test m
5、ethodportions of Section 6, Annex A1, and Appendix X2, AppendixX3, and Appendix X4 of this specification. This standard doesnot purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of thisstandard to establish appropriate safety and heal
6、th practicesand determine the applicability of regulatory limitations priorto use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2B 368 Test Method for Copper-Accelerated Acetic Acid-Salt Spray (Fog) Testing (CASS Test)B 487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and OxideCoating Thickness by Microscopical
7、 Examination of CrossSectionB 489 Practice for Bend Test for Ductility of Electrodepos-ited and Autocatalytically Deposited Metal Coatings onMetalsB 504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Me-tallic Coatings by the Coulometric MethodB 530 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thick-nesses b
8、y the Magnetic Method: Electrodeposited NickelCoatings on Magnetic and Nonmagnetic SubstratesB 532 Specification for Appearance of Electroplated PlasticSurfacesB 533 Test Method for Peel Strength of Metal ElectroplatedPlasticsB 556 Guide for Measurement of Thin Chromium Coatingsby Spot TestB 567 Tes
9、t Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknessby the Beta Backscatter MethodB 568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknessby X-Ray SpectrometryB 602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic andInorganic CoatingsB 659 Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic andInorganic CoatingsB 727 P
10、ractice for Preparation of Plastics Materials forElectroplatingB 764 Test Method for Simultaneous Thickness and Elec-trode Potential Determination of Individual Layers inMultilayer Nickel Deposit (STEP Test)D 1193 Specification for Reagent WaterE50 Practices for Apparatus, Reagents, and Safety Consi
11、d-erations for Chemical Analysis of Metals, Ores, andRelated Materials3. Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 significant surfacesthose surfaces normally visible(directly or by reflection) that are essential to the appearance orserviceability of the article when assembled in normal positionor that can b
12、e the source of corrosion products that defacevisible surfaces on the assembled article.4. Classification4.1 Five grades of coatings designated by service conditionnumbers and several types of coatings defined by classificationnumbers are covered by this specification.4.2 Service Condition Number:4.
13、2.1 The service condition number indicates the severity ofexposure for which the grade of coating is intended, inaccordance with the following scale:1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 onMetallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeB
14、08.08.03 on Decorative Coatings.Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published September 2008. Originallyapproved in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as B 604 91 (2003).2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.
15、org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.SC5extended very severeSC4very severeSC3severeSC2moderateSC1mil
16、d4.2.2 Service condition numbers are further defined inAppendix X1 where they are related to the severity of exposureencountered by electroplated articles.4.3 Coating Classification Number The coating classifi-cation number is a means of specifying the types and thick-nesses of coatings appropriate
17、for each grade and is comprisedof the following:4.3.1 The symbol for the substrate (PL) indicating it isplateable plastic, followed by a slash mark,4.3.2 The chemical symbol for copper (Cu),4.3.3 Anumber giving the minimum thickness of the coppercoating in micrometres,4.3.4 A lower-case letter desig
18、nating the type of copperelectrodeposit (see 4.4 and 6.3.1),4.3.5 The chemical symbol for nickel (Ni),4.3.6 A number giving the minimum thickness of the nickelin micrometres,4.3.7 A lower-case letter designating the type of nickelelectrodeposit (see 4.4 and 6.3.2),4.3.8 The chemical symbol for chrom
19、ium (Cr), and4.3.9 A lower-case letter or letters designating the type ofchromium (see 4.4 and 6.3.3).4.4 Symbols for Expressing ClassificationThe followinglower-case letters shall be used in coating classification num-bers to describe the types of coatings:a ductile copper deposited from acid-type
20、bathsb single-layer nickel deposited in the fully-bright conditiond double- or triple-layer nickel coatingsr regular (that is, conventional) chromiummc microcracked chromiummp microporous chromium4.5 Example of Complete Classification NumberA coat-ing on plastic comprising 15 m minimum ductile acid
21、copperplus 15 m minimum double-layer nickel plus 0.25 mminimum microporous chromium has the classification num-ber: PL/Cu15a Ni15d Cr mp.5. Ordering Information5.1 When ordering articles to be electroplated in accordancewith this standard, the purchaser shall state the following:5.1.1 ASTM designati
22、on number.5.1.2 Either the classification number of the specific coat-ing required (see 4.3) or the substrate material and the servicecondition number denoting the severity of the conditions it isrequired to withstand (see 4.2). If the service condition numberis quoted and not the classification num
23、ber, the manufacturer isfree to supply any of the types of coatings designated by theclassification number corresponding to the service conditionnumber, as given in Table 1.3On request, the manufacturershall inform the purchaser of the classification number of thecoating applied.5.1.3 The appearance
24、 required, for example, bright, dull, orsatin. Alternatively, samples showing the required finish orrange of finish shall be supplied or approved by the purchaser.5.1.4 The significant surfaces, to be indicated on drawingsof the parts, or by the provision of suitably marked specimens(see 3.1).5.1.5
25、The positions on significant surfaces for rack orcontact marks, where such marks are unavoidable (see 6.1.1).5.1.6 The extent to which defects shall be tolerated onnonsignificant surfaces.5.1.7 The ductility if other than the standard value (see 6.4).5.1.8 The extent of tolerable surface deteriorati
26、on aftercorrosion testing (see 6.6.3).5.1.9 Sampling methods and acceptance levels (See Section7).5.1.10 Whether thermal cycle and corrosion testing shall beconducted individually on separate specimens as described in6.6 and 6.7, or sequentially using the same specimens asdescribed in 6.8, and wheth
27、er the specimens shall be un-mounted or mounted in a manner simulating assembly whenthese tests are conducted.5.2 The minimum values of the electrochemical potentialdifferences between individual nickel layers as measured inaccordance with Test Method B 764 within the limits given in6.10.6. Product
28、Requirements6.1 Visual Defects:6.1.1 The significant surfaces of the electroplated articlesshall be free of visible defects, such as blisters, pits, roughness,cracks, and uncoated areas, and shall not be stained ordiscolored. On articles where a visible contact mark is un-avoidable, its position sha
29、ll be specified by the purchaser. Theelectroplated article shall be free of damage and clean.6.1.2 Defects in the surface of the molded plastic, such ascold shots, ejection marks, flash, gate marks, parting lines,splay and others, may adversely affect the appearance andperformance of coatings applie
30、d thereto despite the observance3“Performance of Decorative Electrodeposited Copper-Nickel-Chromium Coat-ings on Plastics” is a final report on programs conducted by ASTM and ASEP toevaluate the coating classification numbers. A copy of the report has been filed atASTM Headquarters as RR B-8-1003.TA
31、BLE 1 Copper Plus Nickel Plus Chromium Coatings onPlasticAServiceConditionNumberClassification NumberEquivalent Nickel Thicknessm mils (approx.)SC 5 PL/Cu15a Ni30d Cr mcPL/Cu15a Ni30d Cr mp30301.21.2SC 4 PL/Cu15a Ni30d Cr rPL/Cu15a Ni25d Cr mcPL/Cu15a Ni25d Cr mp3025251.21.01.0SC 3 PL/Cu15a Ni25d Cr
32、 rPL/Cu15a Ni20d Cr mcPL/Cu15a Ni20d Cr mp2520201.00.80.8SC 2 PL/Cu15a Ni15b Cr rPL/Cu15a Ni10b Cr mcPL/Cu15a Ni10b Cr mp1510100.60.40.4SC 1 PL/Cu15a Ni7b Cr r 7 0.3AThe minimum copper thickness may be greater in some applications to meetthermal cycling and other requirements.B 604 91 (2008)2of the
33、best electroplating practice.Accordingly, the electroplat-ers responsibility for defects in the coating resulting from theplastic-molding operation shall be waived (Note 1).NOTE 1To minimize problems of this type, the specifications cover-ing the items to be electroplated should contain appropriate
34、limitations onthe extent of surface defects. Practice B 532 distinguishes between defectsthat arise primarily in molding and those that arise in electroplatingoperations.6.2 PretreatmentsProper preparatory procedures are es-sential for satisfactory performance of electrodeposited coat-ings on plasti
35、cs. Procedures described in Practice B 727 maybe followed. In the case of patented processes, the instructionsprovided by the suppliers of those processes shall be followed.6.3 Process and Coating RequirementsFollowing prepa-ratory operations, plastic articles are placed in electroplatingsolutions a
36、s required to produce the composite coating de-scribed by the specific coating classification number or bycoating one of the specified classification numbers listed inTable 1 appropriate for the specified service condition number.6.3.1 Type of CopperDuctile copper shall be depositedfrom acid-type ba
37、ths containing organic additives that promoteleveling by the copper deposit.6.3.2 Type of NickelFor double- or triple-layer nickelcoatings, the bottom layer shall contain less than 0.005 mass %sulfur (Note 2). The top layer shall contain greater than 0.04mass % sulfur (Note 3), and its thickness sha
38、ll be not less than10 % of the total nickel thickness. In double-layer coatings, thethickness of the bottom layer shall be not less than 60 % of thetotal nickel thickness. In triple-layer coatings, the bottom layershall be not less than 50 % nor more than 70 %. If there arethree layers, the intermed
39、iate layer shall contain not less than0.15 mass % sulfur and shall not exceed 10 % of the totalnickel thickness. These requirements for multilayer nickelcoatings are summarized in Table 2.6.3.3 Thickness of Chromium DepositThe minimum per-missible thickness of the chromium deposit shall be 0.25 m on
40、significant surfaces. The thickness of chromium is designatedby the same symbol as the type instead of by numerals as in thecase of copper and nickel (see 4.4).NOTE 2The sulfur content is specified in order to indicate which typeof nickel electroplating solution must be used.Although no simple metho
41、dis yet available for determining the sulfur content of a nickel deposit on acoated article, chemical determinations are possible using speciallyprepared test specimens. See Appendix X2 for the determination of sulfurin electrodeposited nickel.NOTE 3It will usually be possible to identify the type o
42、f nickel bymicroscopical examination of the polished and etched section of an articleprepared in accordance with Test Method B 487. The thickness of theindividual nickel layers in double-layer and triple-layer coatings, as wellas the electrochemical relationships between the individual layers can be
43、measured by the STEP test in accordance with Test Method B 764.6.4 DuctilityThe minimum value of the ductility shall be8 % for copper and for nickel when tested by the method givenin Appendix X3. Greater ductility may be requested but shallbe subject to agreement between the purchaser and the manu-f
44、acturer.6.5 Coating Thickness:6.5.1 The minimum coating thickness shall be as designatedby the coating classification number.6.5.2 It is recognized that requirements may exist for thickercoatings than are covered by this specification.6.5.3 The thickness of a coating and its various layers shallbe m
45、easured at points on the significant surfaces (see 4.2 andNote 4.)NOTE 4When significant surfaces are involved on which the specifiedthickness of deposit cannot readily be controlled, such as threads, holes,deep recesses, bases of angles, and similar areas, the purchaser and themanufacturer should r
46、ecognize the necessity for either thicker deposits onthe more accessible surfaces or for special racking. Special racks mayinvolve the use of conforming, auxiliary, or bipolar electrodes, ornonconducting shields.6.5.3.1 The coulometric method described in Test MethodB 504 may be used to measure thic
47、kness of the chromium, thetotal thickness of the nickel, and the thickness of the copper.The STEP test, Test Method B 764, which is similar to thecoulometric method, may be used to determine the thicknessesof individual layers of nickel in a multilayer coating.6.5.3.2 The microscopical method descri
48、bed in Test MethodB 487 may be used to measure the thickness of each nickellayer and of the copper layer.6.5.3.3 The beta backscatter method described in TestMethod B 567 may be used when the total thickness of acopper/nickel/chromium composite coating is to be measured,without any indication of the
49、 thickness of each individual layer.6.5.3.4 Other methods may be used if it can be demon-strated that the uncertainty of the measurement is less than10 %, or less than that of any applicable method mentioned in6.4.3. Other methods are outlined in Test Methods B 530 andB 568 and Guides B 556 and B 659.6.6 Corrosion Testing:6.6.1 Coated articles shall be subjected to the corrosion testfor a period of time that is appropriate for the particular servicecondition number (or for the service condition number corre-sponding to a specified classification
