ASTM B374-06(2011)
(Terminology)Standard Terminology Relating to Electroplating
Standard Terminology Relating to Electroplating
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Designation: B374 − 06 (Reapproved 2011) Endorsed by American
Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National
Association of Metal Finishers
Standard Terminology Relating to
Electroplating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B374; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
These definitions correspond to interpretations as applied to electroplating and do not necessarily
correspond to the definitions used in other fields.
1. Referenced Documents adhesion, practical, n—theforceorworkrequiredtodetachor
remove a coating from the underlayer or substrate; it can be
1.1 ASTM Standards:
measured in terms of peel, pull, or shear strength as an
B368Test Method for Copper-Accelerated Acetic Acid-Salt
experimentally determined quantity.
Spray (Fog) Testing (CASS Test)
aluminizing—forming of an aluminum or aluminum alloy
2. Terminology
coatingonametalbyhotdipping,hotspraying,ordiffusion.
abrasive blasting—a process for cleaning or finishing by
amorphous—noncrystalline, or devoid of regular structure.
means of an abrasive directed at high velocity against the
work piece. ampere—the current that will deposit silver at the rate of
0.0011180 g/s. Current flowing at the rate of 1 C/s.
activator—in diffusion coatings, a chemical, usually a halide
−8
salt, that enters into a reaction with the source or master angström unit (˚A)—10 cm.
alloy, depositing the source on the substrate.
anion—a negatively-charged ion.
activation—elimination of a passive condition on a surface.
anode—the electrode in electrolysis, at which negative ions
activity (ion)—the ion concentration corrected for deviations
are discharged, positive ions are formed, or other oxidizing
from ideal behavior. Concentration multiplied by activity
reactions occur.
coefficient.
anode corrosion—dissolution of anode metal by the electro-
addition agent—a material added in small quantities to a
chemical action in an electrolytic cell.
solution to modify its characteristics. It is usually added to a
anode efficiency—current efficiency of a specified anodic
platingsolutionforthepurposeofmodifyingthecharacterof
process.
a deposit.
anode film—(1)thelayerofsolutionincontactwiththeanode
adhesion—the attractive force that exists between an elec-
trodeposit and its substrate that can be measured as the force that differs in composition from that of the bulk of the
solution. (2)The outer layer of the anode itself consisting of
required to separate an electrodeposit and its substrate.
oxidation or reaction products of the anode metal.
anode polarization—See polarization.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on
anodic coating—a protective, decorative, or functional
Metallic and Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
coating,formedbyconversionofthesurfaceofametalinan
B08.01 on Ancillary Activities.
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published April 2011. Originally
electrolytic oxidation process.
approved in 1961. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as B374–06. DOI:
10.1520/B0374-06R10.
anodizing—an electrolytic oxidation process in which the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
surface of a metal, when anodic, is converted to a coating
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
having desirable protective, decorative, or functional prop-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. erties.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B374 − 06 (2011)
anolyte—theportionofelectrolyteinthevicinityoftheanode; the anode and the cathode that the part nearest the anode
in a divided cell, the portion of electrolyte on the anode side becomes cathodic and the part nearest the cathode becomes
of the diaphragm. anodic.
black oxide—afinishonmetalproducedbyimmersingametal
anti-pitting agent—an addition agent for the specific purpose
of preventing gas pits in a deposit. in hot oxidizing salts or salt solutions.
blasting—See sand blasting; grit blasting; wet blasting.
autocatalytic plating—deposition of a metal coating by a
controlled chemical reduction, catalyzed by the metal or blister—a dome-shaped imperfection or defect, resulting from
loss of adhesion between a metallic deposit and the sub-
alloy being deposited.
strate.
automatic machine (or conveyor)—a machine for mechani-
bloom—a visible exudation or efflorescence on a surface.
cally processing parts through treatment cycles, such as
cleaning, anodizing, or plating.
blue dip—a solution, once widely used, containing a mercury
compound used to deposit mercury upon a metal by immer-
automatic plating: (1) full—plating in which the cathodes are
sion, usually prior to silver plating.
automatically conveyed through successive cleaning and
plating tanks. (2) semi—plating in which the cathodes are
blueing—the formation of a thin oxide film on steel, either by
conveyed automatically through only one plating tank.
heating in air, or by immersion in oxidizing solutions.
auxiliary anode—a supplementary anode employed during
bright dip (nonelectrolytic)—a solution used to produce a
electrodeposition to achieve a desired thickness distribution
bright surface on a metal.
of the deposit.
bright electroplating—a process that produces an electrode-
auxiliary cathode—See thief.
posit having a high degree of specular reflectance in the
as-plated condition.
back emf (electromotive force)—the potential set up in an
electrolytic cell that opposes the flow of current, caused by
bright electroplating range—the range of current densities
such factors as concentration polarization and electrode
within which an electroplating solution produces a bright
films. See emf (electromotive force).
deposit under a given set of operating conditions.
ball burnishing—See barrel burnishing.
bright plating—a process that produces an electrodeposit
barrel burnishing—the smoothing of surfaces by means of
having a high degree of specular reflectance in the as-plated
tumbling the work in rotating barrels in the presence of
condition.
metallic or ceramic shot, and in the absence of abrasive. In
bright plating range—the range of current densities within
ball burnishing, the shot consists of hardened steel balls.
which a given plating solution produces a bright plate.
barrel electroplating—an electroplating process in which
brightener—an addition agent that leads to the formation of a
electrodeposits are applied to articles in bulk in a rotating,
bright plate, or that improves the brightness of the deposit.
oscillating, or otherwise moving container.
bright-throwing power—the measure of the ability of a
barrel finishing (or tumbling)—bulk processing in barrels, in
plating solution or a specified set of plating conditions to
either the presence or absence of abrasives or burnishing
deposit uniformly bright electroplate upon an irregularly
shot, for the purpose of improving the surface finish.
shaped cathode.
barrel plating (or cleaning)—platingorcleaninginwhichthe
bronzing—the application of a chemical finish to copper or
work is processed in bulk in a rotating container.
copper alloy surfaces to alter the color.
barrel processing—mechanical, chemical, cleaning, or elec-
brush plating—a method of plating in which the plating
trolytic treatment of articles in bulk or in a rotating,
solution is applied with a pad or brush, within which is an
oscillating, or otherwise moving container.
anode and which is moved over the cathode to be plated.
barrier layer—in anodizing aluminum, the thin, pore-free,
brush polishing (electrolytic)—a method of electropolishing
semiconducting aluminum oxide region nearest the metal
(q.v.) in which the electrolyte is applied with a pad or brush
surface and distinct from the main anodic oxide coating
in contact with the part to be polished.
which has a pore structure.
buffer—a compound or mixture that, when contained in
base metal—(1) See basis metal;(2) in diffusion coatings, the
solution, causes the solution to resist change in pH. Each
metal present in the largest proportion in an alloy.
buffer has a characteristic limited range of pH over which it
basis metal (or material)—material upon which coatings are is effective.
deposited.
buffing—the smoothing of a surface by means of a rotating
bipolar electrode—an electrode that is not directly connected flexiblewheeltothesurfaceofwhichfine,abrasiveparticles
to the power supply but is so placed in the solution between are applied in liquid suspension, paste, or grease stick form.
B374 − 06 (2011)
building up—electroplating for the purpose of increasing the chelating agent—a compound capable of forming a chelate
dimensions of an article. compound with a metal ion. See chelate compound.
burn off—the unintentional removal of an autocatalytic de- chemical milling—the shaping of a work piece by immersion
in an etchant employing a resist for selective removal of
posit from a nonconducting substrate, during subsequent
electroplating operations, owing to the application of excess material.
current or a poor contact area.
chemical plating—deposition of a metal coating by chemical,
non-electrolytic methods. See also immersion plate, con-
burnishing—the smoothing of surfaces by rubbing, accom-
tact plating.
plished chiefly by the movement rather than the removal of
the surface layer.
chemical polishing—the improvement in surface smoothing
of a metal by simple immersion in a suitable solution. See
burnt deposit—a rough, noncoherent or otherwise unsatisfac-
bright dip (nonelectrolytic ).
tory deposit produced by the application of an excessive
current density and usually containing oxides or other
chromating—a process for producing a conversion coating
inclusions.
containing chromium compounds.
bus (bus bar)—arigidconductingsection,forcarryingcurrent
chromizing—a surface treatment at elevated temperatures,
to the anode and cathode bars.
generally carried out in pack, vapor, or salt baths, in which
an alloy is formed by the inward diffusion of chromium into
butler finish—afinishcomposedoffine,uniformlydistributed
the base metal.
parallel lines, having a characteristic luster usually produced
with rotating wire brushes or cloth wheels with applied
cleaning—the removal of grease, oxides, or other foreign
abrasives.
material from a surface.
alkaline cleaning— cleaning by means of alkaline solutions.
calomel half cell (calomel electrode)— a half cell containing
a mercury electrode in contact with a solution of potassium
anodic or reverse cleaning—electrolytic cleaning in which
chloride of specified concentration that is saturated with
the work is the anode.
mercurous chloride (calomel).
cathodic or direct cleaning—electrolytic cleaning in which
the work is the cathode.
calorizing—imparting resistance to oxidation to an iron or
steel surface by heating in aluminum powder at 800 to
diphase cleaning— cleaning by means of solutions that
1000°C (1470 to 1830°F).
contain a solvent layer and an aqueous layer. Cleaning is
effected both by solvent and emulsifying action.
CASS test (copper accelerated salt spray)— an accelerated
direct current cleaning—See cathodic or direct cleaning.
corrosion test for some electrodeposits and for anodic
coatings on aluminum (see Test Method B368). electrolytic cleaning—alkalinecleaninginwhichacurrentis
passed through the solution, the work being one of the
cataphoresis—See electrophoresis.
electrodes.
cathode—the electrode in electrolysis at which positive ions
emulsion cleaning—cleaningbymeansofsolutionscontain-
are discharged, negative ions are formed, or other reducing
ing organic solvents, water, and emulsifying agents.
actions occur.
immersion—See soak cleaning.
cathode efficiency—the current efficiency of a specified ca-
reverse current cleaning—See anodic or reverse cleaning.
thodic process.
soak cleaning— cleaning by immersion without the use of
cathode film—thelayerofsolutionincontactwiththecathode
current, usually in alkaline solution.
that differs in composition from that of the bulk of the
solvent cleaning— cleaning by means of organic solvents.
solution.
spray cleaning— cleaning by means of spraying.
cathode polarization— See polarization.
ultrasonic cleaning—cleaning by any chemical means aided
catholyte—the portion of the electrolyte in the vicinity of the
by ultrasonic energy.
cathode; in a divided cell the portion of the cathode side of
cleaning-emulsifiable solvent—two-stage cleaning system
the diaphragm.
wherein a concentrate containing organic solvents and
cation—a positively-charged ion.
surface-active agents is applied to a surface, subsequently
emulsified, and removed along with the soil, by water
caustic dip—in diffusion coatings, a strongly alkaline treat-
rinsing.
ment applied by dip or spray for neutralizing acid residues.
coating cycle—specific time and temperature to achieve de-
cementation—See pack cementation.
sired depth of diffusion.
chelate compound—a compound in which the metal is con-
tainedasanintegralpartofaringstructureandisnotreadily coating, diffusion—an alloy coating produced by applying
ionized. heat to one or more coatings deposited on a metal substrate.
B374 − 06 (2011)
colloidal particle—an electrically-charged particle, generally Corrodkote test—an accelerated corrosion test for electrode-
smaller in size than 200 mµ, dispersed in a second continu- posits (see Method B380 ).
ous phase.
corrosion—(1) gradual solution or oxidation of a metal.
(2) solution of anode metal by the electrochemical action
color anodizing—in anodizing aluminum, formation of a
colored coating on aluminum where the colored compound, in the plating cell.
pigment, or dye is incorporated after the coating has been
coulomb—the quantity of electricity that is transmitted
formed.
through an electric circuit in 1 s when the current in the
circuit is 1 A. The quantity of electricity that will deposit
coloring—(1) the production of desired colors on metal
0.0011180 g of silver.
surfaces by appropriate chemical or electrochemical action.
(2) light buffing of metal surfaces for the purpose of
coulometer—an electrolytic cell arranged to measure the
producing a high luster. Called “color buffing.”
quantity of electricity by the chemical action produced in
accordance with Faraday’s law.
complex ion—an ion composed of two or more ions or
radicals,bothofwhicharecapabl
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