ASTM B533-85(2024)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Peel Strength of Metal Electroplated Plastics
Standard Test Method for Peel Strength of Metal Electroplated Plastics
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The force required to separate a metallic coating from its plastic substrate is determined by the interaction of several factors: the generic type and quality of the plastic molding compound, the molding process, the process used to prepare the substrate for electroplating, and the thickness and mechanical properties of the metallic coating. By holding all others constant, the effect on the peel strength by a change in any one of the above listed factors may be noted. Routine use of the test in a production operation can detect changes in any of the above listed factors.
4.2 The peel test values do not directly correlate to the adhesion of metallic coatings on the actual product.
4.3 When the peel test is used to monitor the coating process, a large number of plaques should be molded at one time from a same batch of molding compound used in the production moldings to minimize the effects on the measurements of variations in the plastic and the molding process.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method gives two procedures for measuring the force required to peel a metallic coating from a plastic substrate.2 One procedure (Procedure A) utilizes a universal testing machine and yields reproducible measurements that can be used in research and development, in quality control and product acceptance, in the description of material and process characteristics, and in communications. The other procedure (Procedure B) utilizes an indicating force instrument that is less accurate and that is sensitive to operator technique. It is suitable for process control use.
1.2 The tests are performed on standard molded plaques. This method does not cover the testing of production electroplated parts.
1.3 The tests do not necessarily measure the adhesion of a metallic coating to a plastic substrate because in properly prepared test specimens, separation usually occurs in the plastic just beneath the coating-substrate interface rather than at the interface. It does, however, reflect the degree that the process is controlled.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: B533 − 85 (Reapproved 2024) Endorsed by American
Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National
Association of Metal Finishers
Standard Test Method for
Peel Strength of Metal Electroplated Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B533; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Document
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method gives two procedures for measuring the
E4 Practices for Force Calibration and Verification of Test-
force required to peel a metallic coating from a plastic
ing Machines
substrate. One procedure (Procedure A) utilizes a universal
testing machine and yields reproducible measurements that can
3. Summary of Test Method
be used in research and development, in quality control and
3.1 A properly prepared standard test specimen, called a
product acceptance, in the description of material and process
plaque, is copper electroplated, with no additional metal
characteristics, and in communications. The other procedure
coating. The coated plaque is either tested as is, or it is
(Procedure B) utilizes an indicating force instrument that is less
conditioned by a low-temperature bake and then tested. The
accurate and that is sensitive to operator technique. It is
coating is cut through to the plastic substrate in a way that
suitable for process control use.
forms two strips of coating (see Fig. 1). Each strip is peeled
1.2 The tests are performed on standard molded plaques.
from the substrate at a right angle using an instrument that
This method does not cover the testing of production electro-
indicates the force required to separate it from its substrate.
plated parts.
4. Significance and Use
1.3 The tests do not necessarily measure the adhesion of a
4.1 The force required to separate a metallic coating from its
metallic coating to a plastic substrate because in properly
plastic substrate is determined by the interaction of several
prepared test specimens, separation usually occurs in the
factors: the generic type and quality of the plastic molding
plastic just beneath the coating-substrate interface rather than
compound, the molding process, the process used to prepare
at the interface. It does, however, reflect the degree that the
the substrate for electroplating, and the thickness and mechani-
process is controlled.
cal properties of the metallic coating. By holding all others
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the constant, the effect on the peel strength by a change in any one
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
of the above listed factors may be noted. Routine use of the test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- in a production operation can detect changes in any of the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- above listed factors.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.2 The peel test values do not directly correlate to the
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
adhesion of metallic coatings on the actual product.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.3 When the peel test is used to monitor the coating
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
process, a large number of plaques should be molded at one
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
time from a same batch of molding compound used in the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
production moldings to minimize the effects on the measure-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ments of variations in the plastic and the molding process.
5. Apparatus
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
5.1 Procedure A—A tension testing machine that has self-
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.05 on
aligning grips and that has a loading range that includes the
Decorative Coatings.
Current edition approved May 1, 2024. Published May 2024. Originally
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as B533 – 85 (2019). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
DOI: 10.1520/B0533-85R-24. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This test is also known as the Jacquet Test. A detailed treatment of the test has Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
been published by Saubestre et al in Plating, Vol 52, 1965, p. 982. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B533 − 85 (2024)
FIG. 1 Plaque
forces to be measured, 5 N to 200 N, shall be used to separate permits free circulation of air around all surfaces of the
the coating from the substrate, and measure the force required. plaques. Allow the conditioned plaques to cool to room
The machine shall meet the verification requirements of temperature and then test them within 1 h. Test the plaques that
4,5
Practices E4. The speed of separation of the crossarms of the do not require conditioning within 30 min to 60 min following
machine shall be adjusted to give a separation rate of 25 mm- the coating process.
⁄min 6 3 mm ⁄min. The machine shall automatically and con-
NOTE 1—The separation strength of an unconditioned plaque will
tinuously record on a chart the load on one coordinate and the
change with time. The separation strength of a conditioned plaque may
amount of peel on the other coordinate. The amount of peel
change with time after conditioning.
may be obtained from calculation, using a known chart speed.
9. Procedure
5.2 Procedure B—A spring-loaded, force-indicating instru-
9.1 Mold the required number of plaques using the specified
ment with a measurement range that includes the force to be
molding compound and molding procedure.
measured, 5 N to 200 N, shall be used to measure the force
required to separate the coating. The indicated force shall be
NOTE 2—When the test is used as a control of the coating process,
accurate to 610 %.
commercially prepared plaques can be used.
9.2 Clean, activate, and electroplate the plaques as speci-
6. Sampling
fied. The thickness of the metallic coating in the test area (see
6.1 A sampling procedure is not applicable to this test
Fig. 1) shall be 40 μm 6 4 μm.
method.
NOTE 3—It is necessary to have a ductile copper coating to perform this
test. The thickness and uniformity of thickness of the metallic coating
7. Test Specimen
directly influence the peel strength; therefore, in order to standardize this
7.1 Perform the test using a flat, molded plastic plaque such
test, the coating thickness is specified. If a different coating thickness is
as shown in Fig. 1. Plaque dimensions may vary up to 610 % used, the results will not be comparable to other test results. It may be
necessary to use shielding during plating to obtain the required coating
provided that the edges of slit peel strips are not closer than
thickness uniformity.
11 mm from any plaque edge.
9.3 Cut through the coating along the dashed lines shown in
8. Conditioning
Fig. 1, and also along the centerline so as to produce two
parallel strips of coating that are 25.00 mm 6 0.25 mm wide
8.1 Condition the electroplated plaques requiring condition-
and approximately
...
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