ASTM B183-79(2004)e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
Standard Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
ABSTRACT
This practice provides an aid for setting up a suitable cleaning cycle preparatory to electroplating of low-carbon steel and indicates some of the precautions that must be taken to maintain this cycle in good operating condition. The preparatory procedure involves three basic steps in the following order: (1) removal of oils, grease, and caked-on dirt; (2) removal of scale and oxide films by pickling; and (3) removal of any smut left on the surface and activation of the steel. The cleaning of racked parts, which shall subsequently be electroplated in still tanks, agitated tanks, and semi- and full-automatic equipment, should be performed following this cycle: (1) precleaning; (2) electrocleaning; (3) water rinse; (4) acid pickling; (5) alkaline descaling; and (6) water rinse. Parts in bulk, which shall subsequently be electroplated in hand-operated or automatic barrels, should follow this cleaning cycle: (1) alkaline cleaning; (2) water rinse; (3) acid pickling; and (4) water rinse.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended as an aid to electroplaters in setting up a suitable cleaning cycle preparatory to electroplating of low-carbon steel (Note 0) containing less than 0.35 mass % of carbon and to indicate some of the precautions that must be taken to maintain this cycle in good operating condition. Note 0The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating is covered in Practice B 242.
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.
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Designation:B183–79(Reapproved2004)
Standard Practice for
Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B183; 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 Department of Defense.
´ NOTE—Warning note updated in 5.5 in May 2004.
1. Scope 3.2 Removal from the steel of fabricating lubricants and
finishing compounds may have to be undertaken by “preclean-
1.1 This practice is intended as an aid to electroplaters in
ing” before the articles reach the electroplating room. The
setting up a suitable cleaning cycle preparatory to electroplat-
remainder of the operations should immediately precede the
ing of low-carbon steel (Note 1) containing less than 0.35
electroplating.Insomeinstancesseparateremovalofsmutmay
mass % of carbon and to indicate some of the precautions that
not be necessary as in the case of parts which are barrel-
must be taken to maintain this cycle in good operating
electroplated and tumbled.
condition.
NOTE 1—The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating is 4. Cleaning Solutions and Apparatus
covered in Practice B242.
4.1 All solutions should be subject to chemical control,
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
including determinations of the free acid and iron contents of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the pickling solutions and acid dips, and such tests of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 Based on tests and experience, all solutions should be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
discarded before they have lost their effectiveness.
4.3 To conserve cleaning and pickling solutions and to
2. Referenced Documents
ensure continuous operation when heavy production is in-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
volved, doubling of facilities in the same line of operation may
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-
be desirable. This arrangement will result in a high degree of
troplating
contamination of the first of two solutions of the same kind
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
while the second ones will be sufficiently clean to continue to
use. It will also reduce the degree of contamination of
3. Nature of Cleaning
subsequent solutions, for example, by oil and grease.
3.1 The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating
4.4 As an alternative to the procedure described in 4.3, the
involves three basic steps in the following order:
cleaner and pickle tanks may be provided with a large dam
3.1.1 Removal of oil, grease, and caked-on dirt,
overflow and a pump having its intake placed about half-way
3.1.2 Removal of scale and oxide films by “pickling,” and
down the overflow dam between the accumulated grease and
3.1.3 Removal of any smut left on the surface after step
oil on top and the settled-out solid dirt at the bottom, and
3.1.2 and activation of the steel.
having its outlet placed near the bottom of the tank at the end
opposite to the dam overflow.
4.5 Separate tank electrodes, removable from the tank for
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic inspection and cleaning, should be used. Contact hooks for the
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on
electrodes should be of the inverted V-type for round tank bars
Pre Treatment.
and should be of sufficient size to carry the required current.
Current edition approved April 1, 2004. Published May 2004. Originally
4.6 Rinse tanks should be arranged with a dam overflow,
approved in 1943. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as B183 – 79 (1997).
DOI: 10.1520/B0183-79R04E01.
and any water inlet other than a spray should be placed so as
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
to ensure thorough circulation of the water and a large working
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
surface free from grease accumulation. An adequate flow of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. water is essential.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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B183–79 (2004)
4.7 Heatingcoilsshouldbeplacedonthework-piecesideof 5.7 Water Rinse—Rinse the part again, as described in 5.4
the tank in order to assure a working surface free from grease but in a separate tank.
accumulation.
6. Variations in Procedure for Racked Parts
5. Procedure for Racked Parts
6.1 Consideration should be given to separate precleaning
5.1 The cycle described in 5.2 to 5.6 should be used for the
between manufacturing operations; for example, between gear-
preparation of racked parts subsequently electroplated in still
cutting and deburring operations, and between drawing or
tanks, agitated tanks, semi- and full-automatic equipment,
stamping and buffing operations.
except in those cases described in Section 6.
6.2 Vapor phase degreasing with chlorinated solvents is an
5.2 Precleaning—In general, it is necessary to remove
excellent way to remove mineral oil form recesses such as
fabricating lubricants, buffing compounds, and other soils by
overlapping joints that cannot be cleaned by any other method.
precleaning. This precleaning may be accomplished with
6.3 Plants with limited facilities sometimes omit preclean-
alkaline soak cleaners, cleaners designed to remove buffing
ing especially with work that is not too heavily soiled. This is
compounds (including the use of ultrasonic cleaners), alkaline
permissible; however, electrocleaning time may have to be
spray cleaners, and the use of chlorinated solvents such as
increased and it is almost always necessary to change electro-
trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in vapor-type degreas-
cleaners more frequently. Likewise, close control is necessary
ing equipment, or by use of cold chlorinated solvents if vapor
to ensure proper electrocleaner concentration at all times.
equipment is not available. Precleaning normally should be
6.4 While pickling in strong hydrochloric acid or acid salts
accomplished as soon as possible after fabrication because
in accordance with 5.5 is suitable for most oxide conditions,
many stamping lubricants and buffing compounds become
including heavy annealing scale, welding marks, or wheel
much more difficult to remove if allowed to age on the steel
burns, i
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