ASTM B177/B177M-11(2017)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Engineering Chromium Electroplating
Standard Guide for Engineering Chromium Electroplating
ABSTRACT
This guide provides information on the deposition of engineering chromium by electroplating. This is sometimes called "functional" or "hard" chromium and is usually applied directly to the basis metal and is usually thicker than decorative deposits. This guide is not intended as a standardized procedure, but as a guide for obtaining smooth, adherent coatings of a desired thickness while retaining the required physical and mechanical properties of the base metals. Engineering chromium may be plated directly to the surface of a commonly used engineering metals such as aluminum, nickel alloys, cast iron, steels, copper, copper alloys, and titanium. Substrate requirements including smoothness, fatigue, high-strength steel stress relief, and oxidation are specified. The procedure and requirements for the following are detailed: (1) racking, including rack and anode designs, (2) cleaning, (3) deoxidizing and etching such as anodic etching in chromic acid solution, in plating solution, and in sulfuric acid solution, and slight etching by acid immersion, (4) chromium electroplating process, (5) treatment of chromium coatings such as baking to avoid hydrogen embrittlement, and mechanical finishing by grinding, grinding and honing, or lapping, (6) repair of chromium electrodeposits on steel substrates, and (7) test methods such as thickness determination, hardness test, and adhesion test.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides information about the deposition of chromium on steel for engineering uses. This is sometimes called “functional” or “hard” chromium and is usually applied directly to the basis metal and is usually thicker than decorative deposits.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.3 This guide is not intended as a standardized procedure, but as a guide for obtaining smooth, adherent coatings of chromium of a desired thickness while retaining the required physical and mechanical properties of the base metals. Specified chromium electrodeposits on ferrous surfaces are defined in Specification B650.
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 and health 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
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Designation: B177/B177M − 11 (Reapproved 2017) Endorsed by American
Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National
Association of Metal Finishers
Standard Guide for
1
Engineering Chromium Electroplating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B177/B177M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This guide provides information about the deposition of 2.1 ASTM Standards:
chromium on steel for engineering uses. This is sometimes B183 Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for
called “functional” or “hard” chromium and is usually applied Electroplating
directlytothebasismetalandisusuallythickerthandecorative B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-
deposits. troplating
B244 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness ofAnodic
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
Coatings on Aluminum and of Other Nonconductive
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
Coatings on Nonmagnetic Basis Metals with Eddy-
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
Current Instruments
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
B253 Guide for Preparation of Aluminum Alloys for Elec-
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
troplating
with the standard.
B254 Practice for Preparation of and Electroplating on
1.3 This guide is not intended as a standardized procedure,
Stainless Steel
but as a guide for obtaining smooth, adherent coatings of
B281 Practice for Preparation of Copper and Copper-Base
chromium of a desired thickness while retaining the required
Alloys for Electroplating and Conversion Coatings
physical and mechanical properties of the base metals. Speci-
B320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electro-
fied chromium electrodeposits on ferrous surfaces are defined
plating
in Specification B650.
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
B481 Practice for Preparation of Titanium and Titanium
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Alloys for Electroplating
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Cross Section
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- B499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the Magnetic Basis Metals
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
B504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Metal-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical lic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
B507 Practice for Design of Articles to Be Electroplated on
Racks
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and
Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.03 on
2
Engineering Coatings. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2017. Published May 2017. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as B177 – 11. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/B0177_B0177M-11R17. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B177/B177M − 11 (2017)
B558 Practice for Preparation of Nickel Alloys for Electro- bath chemistry or the plating conditions, or both, or as a result
plating of grinding of the electrodeposit can lead to a reduction in the
B568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness fatigue life of the electroplated part. If this is a design
by X-Ray Spectrometry consideration, the use of mechanical methods such as shot
B571 Practice for Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic peening (see Specification B851 or MIL-S-13165C, or both) or
Coatings autofrettage to compressively stress the surface can increase
B578 Test Method for Microhardness of Electroplated Coat- the fatigue strength. Th
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B177/B177M − 11 B177/B177M − 11 (Reapproved 2017) Endorsed by American
Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National
Association of Metal Finishers
Standard Guide for
1
Engineering Chromium Electroplating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B177/B177M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides information about the deposition of chromium on steel for engineering uses. This is sometimes called
“functional” or “hard” chromium and is usually applied directly to the basis metal and is usually thicker than decorative deposits.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.3 This guide is not intended as a standardized procedure, but as a guide for obtaining smooth, adherent coatings of chromium
of a desired thickness while retaining the required physical and mechanical properties of the base metals. Specified chromium
electrodeposits on ferrous surfaces are defined in Specification B650.
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 and health 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B183 Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
B244 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Anodic Coatings on Aluminum and of Other Nonconductive Coatings on
Nonmagnetic Basis Metals with Eddy-Current Instruments
B253 Guide for Preparation of Aluminum Alloys for Electroplating
B254 Practice for Preparation of and Electroplating on Stainless Steel
B281 Practice for Preparation of Copper and Copper-Base Alloys for Electroplating and Conversion Coatings
B320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electroplating
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
B481 Practice for Preparation of Titanium and Titanium Alloys for Electroplating
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of Cross Section
B499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on Magnetic Basis
Metals
B504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Metallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
B507 Practice for Design of Articles to Be Electroplated on Racks
B558 Practice for Preparation of Nickel Alloys for Electroplating
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.03 on Engineering
Coatings.
Current edition approved June 1, 2011May 1, 2017. Published June 2011 May 2017. Originally approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 20062011 as
ɛ1
B177 – 01B177 – 11.(2006) . DOI: 10.1520/B0177_B0177M-11.10.1520/B0177_B0177M-11R17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B177/B177M − 11 (2017)
B568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness by X-Ray Spectrometry
B571 Practice for Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic Coatings
B578 Test Method for Microhardness of Electroplated Coatings
B602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling
...
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