ASTM B734-97(2003)e1
(Specification)Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Copper for Engineering Uses
Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Copper for Engineering Uses
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers requirements for electrodeposited coatings of copper used for engineering purposes. Examples include surface hardening, heat treatment stop-off, as an underplate for other engineering coatings, for electromagnetic interferences (EMI) shielding in electronic circuitry, and in certain joining operations.
1.2 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited copper when used as a decorative finish, or as an undercoat for other decorative finishes.
1.3 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited copper when used for electroforming.
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Designation: B 734 – 97 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Specification for
Electrodeposited Copper for Engineering Uses
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 734; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
e NOTE—Section 6.8.1 was editorially updated in May 2003.
1. Scope Coating Thicknesses by the Dropping Test
B 567 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
1.1 This specification covers requirements for electrodepos-
by the Beta Backscatter Method
ited coatings of copper used for engineering purposes. Ex-
B 568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
amples include surface hardening, heat treatment stop-off, as
by X-Ray Spectrometry
an underplate for other engineering coatings, for electromag-
B 571 Practice for QualitativeAdhesion Testing of Metallic
netic interferences (EMI) shielding in electronic circuitry, and
Coatings
in certain joining operations.
B 588 TestMethodforMeasurementofThicknessofTrans-
1.2 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited
parent or Opaque Coatings by Double-Beam Interference
copper when used as a decorative finish, or as an undercoat for
Microscope Technique
other decorative finishes.
B 602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and
1.3 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited
Inorganic Coatings
copper when used for electroforming.
B 659 Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic and
2. Referenced Documents Inorganic Coatings
B 678 Test Method for Solderability of Metallic-Coated
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Products
B 183 Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for
B 697 Guide for Selection of Sampling Plans for Inspection
Electroplating
of Electrodeposited Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
B 242 Practice for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for
B 762 Method of Variables Sampling of Metallic and Inor-
Electroplating
ganic Coatings
B 254 Practice for Preparation of and Electroplating on
B 765 Guide for Selection of Porosity Tests for Electrode-
Stainless Steel
posits and Related Metallic Coatings
B 320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electro-
B 832 Guide for Electroforming with Nickel and Copper
plating
B 849 Specification for Pre-Treatments of Iron or Steel for
B 322 Practice for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
Reducing Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
B 374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating
B 850 Guide for Post-Coating Treatments of Steel for Re-
B 487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
ducing the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of a
B 851 SpecificationforAutomatedControlledShotPeening
Cross Section
of MetallicArticles Prior to Nickel,Auto Catalytic Nickel,
B 499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thick-
or Chromium Plating, or as Final Finish
nessesbytheMagneticMethod:NonmagneticCoatingson
D 3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
Magnetic Basis Metals
F 519 Test Method for Mechanical Hydrogen Embrittle-
B 504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Me-
ment Evaluation of Plating Processes and Service Environ-
tallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
ments
B 507 PracticeforDesignofArticlestoBeElectroplatedon
2.2 Military Standard:
Racks
MIL-R-81841 Rotary Flap Peening of Metal Parts
B 555 Guide for Measurement of Electrodeposited Metallic
MIL-S-13165 Shot Peening of Metal Parts
MIL-W-81840 Rotary Flap Peening Wheels
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on
Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B08.08.01 on Engineering Coatings. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2003. Published May 2003. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.03.
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as B 734 – 97. AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094. Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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B 734 – 97 (2003)
3. Terminology 5.3.3 Heat treatment for stress relief, whether it has been
performed or is required.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
5.4 If required by either party, the manufacturer of the parts
3.1.1 significant surfaces—those surfaces normally visible
to be electroplated shall provide the electroplating facility with
(directlyorbyreflection)thatareessentialtotheappearanceor
separate test specimens (see section 8.1).
serviceability of the article when assembled in a normal
position; or which can be the source of corrosion products that
6. Coating Requirements
deface visible surfaces on the assembled article. When neces-
sary,thesignificantsurfaceshallbeindicatedonthedrawingof 6.1 Appearance—The coating on the significant surfaces of
the article, or by the provision of suitably marked samples.
the product shall be smooth and free of visual defects such as
blisters, pits, roughness, cracks, flaking, burned deposits, and
NOTE 1—Whensignificantsurfacesareinvolvedonwhichthespecified
uncoated areas. The boundaries of electroplating that cover
thickness of coating cannot readily be controlled, such as threads, holes,
only a portion of the surface shall, after finishing as indicated
deep recesses, and bases of angles, it will be necessary to apply thicker
coatings on the more accessible surfaces, or to use special racking or both. in the drawing, be free of beads, nodules, jagged edges and
other detrimental irregularities. Imperfections and variations in
3.1.2 inspection lot—a collection of coated articles that; are
appearance in the coating that arise from surface conditions of
of the same type; have been produced to the same specifica-
the basis metal (scratches, pores, roll marks, inclusions, etc.)
tions; have been coated by a single supplier at one time, or at
and that persist in the finish despite the observance of good
approximately the same time, under essentially identical con-
metal finishing practices shall not be cause for rejection.
ditions; and are submitted for acceptance or rejection as a
group.
NOTE 3—Electroplated finishes generally perform better when the
substrateoverwhichtheyareappliedissmoothandfreeofdeepscratches,
3.2 Definitions—For definitions of the technical terms used
tornmetal,pores,inclusions,andotherdefects.Itisrecommendedthatthe
in this specification see Terminology B 374.
specifications covering the unfinished product provide limits for these
defects. A metal finisher can often remove defects through special
4. Classification
treatments such as grinding, polishing, abrasive blasting, and special
4.1 The electrodeposited copper is classified according to chemical treatments. However, these are not normal treatment steps.
When they are desired, they must be agreed upon between the buyer and
thickness of the electrodeposit in the following table:
the producer.
Class Minimum Thickness, µm
25 25
6.2 Thickness—The thickness of the copper coating on the
20 20
significant surfaces shall conform to the requirements of the
12 12
specified class as defined in Section 4.
x Thickness specified
NOTE 4—Variation in the coating thickness from point-to-point on a
NOTE 2—For electroforming applications, that require much thicker
coated article is an inherent characteristic of electroplating processes.
applications, see Guide B 832.
Therefore, the coating thickness will have to exceed the specified value at
some points on the significant surfaces to ensure that the thickness equals
5. Ordering Information
orexceedsthespecifiedvalueatallpoints.Asaresult,theaveragecoating
5.1 The buyer shall supply to the producer in the purchase thicknessonanarticlewillusuallybegreaterthanthespecifiedvalue;how
muchgreaterislargelydeterminedbytheshapeofthearticle(seePractice
order or engineering drawings; marked samples or other
B 507) and the characteristics of the electroplating process. Additionally,
governing documents the following information:
the average coating thickness on an article will vary from article to article
5.1.1 Title, ASTM designation number (Specification
within a production lot. Therefore, if all of the articles in a production lot
B 734), and date of issue.
are to meet the thickness requirement, the average coating thickness of the
5.1.2 Classification or thickness of electrodeposited copper
production lot as a whole will be greater than the average necessary to
(see 4.1),
ensure that a single article meets the requirements.
5.1.3 Significant surfaces if other than defined in 3.1.1, NOTE 5—When electroplating threaded parts such as machine screws,
care is required to avoid too much plate buildup on the crest of the thread.
5.1.4 Sampling plan (Section 7),
In such applications a maximum plate thickness allowable on the crests
5.1.5 Number of test specimens for destructive testing
may require that thicknesses in other areas be thinner.
(Section 8), and
5.1.6 Thickness, adhesion, solderability, porosity and num- 6.3 Porosity—When specified, the coating shall be suffi-
ber of pores acceptable, or hydrogen embrittlement tests and ciently free of pores to pass the porosity test specified in 8.4.
methods required (Section 8). 6.4 Solderability—When specified, the coating shall meet
5.2 Where required, dimensional tolerances allowed for the the requirements of Test Method B 678.
specified electroplated copper thickness shall be specified. 6.5 Pretreatment of Iron and Steel for Reducing the Risk of
5.3 Inadditiontotherequirementsof5.1andwhentheparts Hydrogen Embrittlement—Parts for critical applications that
to be electroplated are supplied to the electroplater by the are made of steels with ultimate tensile strengths of 1000 MPa,
buyer, the buyer shall also supply the following information as hardness of 31 HRC or greater, that have been machined,
required. ground, cold formed, or cold straightened subsequent to heat
5.3.1 Identity of the base material by alloy identification treatment, shall require stress relief heat treatment when
such as ASTM, AISI, or SAE numbers, or equivalent compo- specified by the purchaser, the tensile strength to be supplied
sition information, by the purchaser. Specification B 849 may be consulted for a
5.3.2 Hardness of the parts, and list of pretreatments that are used widely.
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B 734 – 97 (2003)
6.6 Post Coating Treatment of Iron and Steel for Reducing 8. Test Methods
the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement—Parts for critical appli-
8.1 The permission or the requirement to use special test
cationsthataremadeofsteelswithultimatetensilestrengthsof
specimens, the number to be used, the material from which
1000 MPa, hardness of 31 HRC or greater, as well as surface
they are to be made, and their shape and size shall be stated by
hardened parts, shall require post coating hydrogen embrittle-
the purchaser.
ment relief baking when specified by the purchaser, the tensile
NOTE 8—Test specimens often are used to represent the coated articles
strength to be supplied by the purchaser. Specification B 850
in a test if the articles are of a size, shape, or material that is not suitable
may be consulted for a list of post treatments that are used
for the test, or if it is preferred not to submit articles to a destructive test
widely.
because, for example, the articles are expensive or few in number. The
6.7 Peening of Metal Parts—If peening is required before
specimen should duplicate the characteristics of the article that influence
electroplating to induce residual compressive stress to increase
the property being tested.
fatique strength and resistance to stress corrosion cracking of
8.1.1 Special test specimens used to represent articles in an
the metal parts, refer to MIL-S-13165, MIL-R-81841, MIL-W-
adhesion, porosity, corrosion resistance, or appearance test
81840, and Specification B 851.
shall be made of the same material, in the same metallurgical
6.8 Supplementary Requirements:
condition, and have the same surface condition as the articles
6.8.1 Packaging—If packaging requirements are to be met
they represent, and be placed in the production lot of and be
under this specification, they shall be in accordance with
processed along with the articles they represent.
Practice D 3951, or as specified in the contract or order.
8.1.2 Special test specimens used to represent articles in a
(Warning—Some contemporary packaging materials may
coatingthicknesstestmaybemadeofamaterialthatissuitable
emit fumes that are deleterious to the surface of the coating.)
for the test method even if the represented article is not of the
same material. For example, a low-carbon steel specimen may
7. Sampling
represent a brass article when the magnetic thickness test is
7.1 The sampling plan used for the inspection of a quantity
used(TestMethodB 499).Thethicknessspecimenneednotbe
of the coated articles shall be as agreed upon between the
carried through the complete process with the represented
purchaser and the seller.
article. If not, introduce it into the process at the point where
NOTE 6—Usually, when a collection of coated articles, the inspection the coating is applied and carry it through all steps that have a
lot (7.2), is examined for compliance with the requirements placed on the
bearing on the coating thickness. In rack plating, rack the
articles, a relatively small number of the articles, the sample, is selected at
specimen in the same way with the same distance from and
randomandisinspected.Theinspectionlotthenisclassifiedascomplying
orientation with the anodes and other items in the process as
or not complying with the requirements based on the results of the
the article it represents.
inspection of the sample. The size of the sample and the criteria of
compliance are determined by the application of statistics. The procedure
NOTE 9—When special test specimens are used to represent coated
is known as sampling inspection. Three standards, Test Method B 602,
articles in a thickness test, the specimens will not necessarily have the
Guide B 697, and Method B 762 contain sampling plans that are designed
same thickness and thickness distribution as the articles unless the
for the sampling inspection of coatings. Test Method B 602 contains four
specimens and the articles are of the same general size and shape.
sampling plans, three for use with tests that are non-destructive and one
Therefore, before finished articles can be accepted on the ba
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