ASTM B183-18

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 1) 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 1: The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating is covered in Guide B242.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 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

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2018
• ICS: 25.220.10 - Surface preparation
• Technical Committee: B08 - Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
• Drafting Committee: B08.02 - Pre Treatment

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: B183 − 18
Standard Practice for
1
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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.1 Removal of oil, grease, and caked-on dirt,
3.1.2 Removal of scale and oxide films by “pickling,” and
1.1 This practice is intended as an aid to electroplaters in
3.1.3 Removal of any smut left on the surface after step
setting up a suitable cleaning cycle preparatory to electroplat-
3.1.2 and activation of the steel.
ing of low-carbon steel (Note 1) containing less than 0.35
mass % of carbon and to indicate some of the precautions that
3.2 Removal from the steel of fabricating lubricants and
must be taken to maintain this cycle in good operating
finishing compounds may have to be undertaken by “preclean-
condition.
ing” before the articles reach the electroplating room. The
remainder of the operations should immediately precede the
NOTE 1—The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating is
electroplating.Insomeinstancesseparateremovalofsmutmay
covered in Guide B242.
not be necessary as in the case of parts which are barrel-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
electroplated and tumbled.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
4. Cleaning Solutions and Apparatus
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 All solutions should be subject to chemical control,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
including determinations of the free acid and iron contents of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the pickling solutions and acid dips, and such tests of the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.2 Based on tests and experience, all solutions should be
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
discarded before they have lost their effectiveness.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.3 To conserve cleaning and pickling solutions and to
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ensure continuous operation when heavy production is
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
involved, doubling of facilities in the same line of operation
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
may be desirable.This arrangement will result in a high degree
2. Referenced Documents
of contamination of the first of two solutions of the same kind
2
while the second ones will be sufficiently clean to continue to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
use. It will also reduce the degree of contamination of
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-
subsequent solutions, for example, by oil and grease.
troplating
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
4.4 As an alternative to the procedure described in 4.3, the
cleaner and pickle tanks may be provided with a large dam
3. Nature of Cleaning
overflow and a pump having its intake placed about half-way
3.1 The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating
down the overflow dam between the accumulated grease and
involves three basic steps in the following order:
oil on top and the settled-out solid dirt at the bottom, and
having its outlet placed near the bottom of the tank at the end
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
opposite to the dam overflow.
and Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on
Pre Treatment.
4.5 Separate tank electrodes, removable from the tank for
Current edition approved June 1, 2018. Published June 2018. Originally
inspection and cleaning, should be used. Contact hooks for the
approved in 1943. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as B183–14. DOI:
electrodes should be of the inverted V-type for round tank bars
10.1520/B0183-18.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or and should be of sufficient size to carry the required current.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.6 Rinse tanks should be arranged with a dam overflow,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. and any water inlet other than a spray should be placed so as
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
...

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: B183 − 79 (Reapproved 2014) B183 − 18
Standard Practice for
1
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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. 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 1) 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 1—The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating is covered in Guide B242.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 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:
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
3. Nature of Cleaning
3.1 The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating involves three basic steps in the following order:
3.1.1 Removal of oil, grease, and caked-on dirt,
3.1.2 Removal of scale and oxide films by “pickling,” and
3.1.3 Removal of any smut left on the surface after step 3.1.2 and activation of the steel.
3.2 Removal from the steel of fabricating lubricants and finishing compounds may have to be undertaken by “precleaning”
before the articles reach the electroplating room. The remainder of the operations should immediately precede the electroplating.
In some instances separate removal of smut may not be necessary as in the case of parts which are barrel-electroplated and tumbled.
4. Cleaning Solutions and Apparatus
4.1 All solutions should be subject to chemical control, including determinations of the free acid and iron contents of the
pickling solutions and acid dips, and such tests of the cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.
4.2 Based on tests and experience, all solutions should be discarded before they have lost their effectiveness.
4.3 To conserve cleaning and pickling solutions and to ensure continuous operation when heavy production is involved,
doubling of facilities in the same line of operation may be desirable. This arrangement will result in a high degree of contamination
of the first of two solutions of the same kind while the second ones will be sufficiently clean to continue to use. It will also reduce
the degree of contamination of subsequent solutions, for example, by oil and grease.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on Pre
Treatment.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014June 1, 2018. Published November 2014June 2018. Originally approved in 1943. Last previous edition approved in 20092014 as
B183 – 79(2009). DOI: 10.1520/B0183-79R14.–14. DOI: 10.1520/B0183-18.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. 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

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B183 − 18
4.4 As an alternative to the procedure described in 4.3, the cleaner and pickle tanks may be provided with a large dam overflow
and a pump having its intake placed about half-way down the overflow dam between the accumulated grease and oil on to
...