ASTM B607-21
(Specification)Standard Specification for Autocatalytic Nickel Boron Coatings for Engineering Use
Standard Specification for Autocatalytic Nickel Boron Coatings for Engineering Use
ABSTRACT
This standard contains the requirements for autocatalytic nickel boron alloy coatings deposited from aqueous solutions without the use of external electric sources. The specification classifies the hard, uniform, microporous, and limited corrosion protection coatings as either Type 1 or Type 2 depending on the boron content. Both the physical and mechanical properties of the coatings such as density, hardness, stress, and melting point also vary with the boron content. In general, these coatings are not heat treated to maintain solderability.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification describes the requirements for coatings of autocatalytic nickel boron deposited from aqueous solutions onto substrates for engineering (functional) use. The specification classifies these coatings into two types:
1.1.1 Type 1 Coatings have a boron content of 0.1 to less than 3.5 mass percent with the balance nickel.
1.1.2 Type 2 Coatings have a boron content of 3.5 to 6 mass percent and a minimum of 90 mass percent nickel.
1.2 Nickel boron coatings are produced by autocatalytic (electroless) deposition from aqueous solutions. These solutions contain either an alkylamineborane or sodium borohydride as a reducing agent, a source of nickel ions, a buffer, complexant, and control chemicals.
1.3 The coatings are hard and uniform in thickness, even on irregular shaped parts, and used in a wide range of applications.
1.4 Process solutions formulated with an alkylamineborane usually produce coatings that contain 0.1 to 3.5 % boron. Thin coatings of this type provide bondability and solderability on electronic components such as lead frames, electrical contacts, and headers. To maintain solderability, these coatings are generally not heat treated.
1.5 Process solutions formulated with sodium borohydride are strongly alkaline and are frequently used to plate steel and titanium parts to impart surface hardness and wear resistance properties. Deposits produced from these processes can contain 3 to 5 % boron and thallium or other metals which are used to stabilize the plating solution and modify the coating properties.
1.6 The physical and mechanical properties of these deposits such as density, hardness, stress, and melting point will vary with the boron content. The variation of boron content also affects the quantity and structure of nickel boride precipitated during heat treatment. In the as-plated condition, the deposit consists of a predominantly amorphous mixture of nickel and boron with a hardness of about 700 HKN. When the deposit is heated above 300 °C, the nickel crystallizes, forming nickel clusters of Ni (111) and boron precipitates as nickel boride, Ni3B (211) and (311), increasing the hardness to greater than 1000 HK100 for Type 2 coatings.
1.7 The nickel boron coatings are microporous and offer limited corrosion protection. Their columnar structure, however, is beneficial in reducing wear because it provides a means of trapping lubricants within the surface of the coated part.
1.8 This document describes only autocatalytic nickel boron coatings that have been produced without use of external electric sources.
1.9 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.10 The following hazards caveat pertains only to the Test Methods section of this specification: This standard does not purport to address the safety problems 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.
1.11 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 ...
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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:B607 −21
Standard Specification for
1
Autocatalytic Nickel Boron Coatings for Engineering Use
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B607; 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* boron with a hardness of about 700 HKN. When the deposit is
heated above 300 °C, the nickel crystallizes, forming nickel
1.1 This specification describes the requirements for coat-
clusters of Ni (111) and boron precipitates as nickel boride,
ings of autocatalytic nickel boron deposited from aqueous
Ni B (211) and (311), increasing the hardness to greater than
3
solutions onto substrates for engineering (functional) use. The
1000 HK for Type 2 coatings.
100
specification classifies these coatings into two types:
1.1.1 Type 1 Coatings have a boron content of 0.1 to less 1.7 The nickel boron coatings are microporous and offer
than 3.5 mass percent with the balance nickel. limited corrosion protection. Their columnar structure,
1.1.2 Type 2 Coatings have a boron content of 3.5 to 6 mass however, is beneficial in reducing wear because it provides a
percent and a minimum of 90 mass percent nickel. means of trapping lubricants within the surface of the coated
part.
1.2 Nickel boron coatings are produced by autocatalytic
(electroless) deposition from aqueous solutions. These solu- 1.8 Thisdocumentdescribesonlyautocatalyticnickelboron
tions contain either an alkylamineborane or sodium borohy- coatings that have been produced without use of external
dride as a reducing agent, a source of nickel ions, a buffer, electric sources.
complexant, and control chemicals.
1.9 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
1.3 The coatings are hard and uniform in thickness, even on as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
irregularshapedparts,andusedinawiderangeofapplications. standard.
1.10 The following hazards caveat pertains only to the Test
1.4 Process solutions formulated with an alkylamineborane
Methods section of this specification: This standard does not
usually produce coatings that contain 0.1 to 3.5 % boron. Thin
purport to address the safety problems associated with its use.
coatings of this type provide bondability and solderability on
It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
electronic components such as lead frames, electrical contacts,
appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and
and headers. To maintain solderability, these coatings are
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
generally not heat treated.
use.
1.5 Process solutions formulated with sodium borohydride
1.11 This international standard was developed in accor-
are strongly alkaline and are frequently used to plate steel and
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
titanium parts to impart surface hardness and wear resistance
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
properties.Depositsproducedfromtheseprocessescancontain
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3 to 5 % boron and thallium or other metals which are used to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
stabilizetheplatingsolutionandmodifythecoatingproperties.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.6 The physical and mechanical properties of these depos-
itssuchasdensity,hardness,stress,andmeltingpointwillvary
2. Referenced Documents
with the boron content. The variation of boron content also
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
affects the quantity and structure of nickel boride precipitated
B374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating
during heat treatment. In the as-plated condition, the deposit
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
consists of a predominantly amorphous mixture of nickel and
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of
Cross Section
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on
Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
2
B08.03 on Engineering Coatings. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2021. Published October 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as B607 – 15. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to
...
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: B607 − 15 B607 − 21
Standard Specification for
1
Autocatalytic Nickel Boron Coatings for Engineering Use
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B607; 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 Scope*
1.1 Nickel boron coatings are produced by autocatalytic (electroless) deposition from aqueous solutions. These solutions contain
either an alkylamineborane or sodium borohydride as a reducing agent, a source of nickel ions, a buffer, complexant, and control
chemicals.
1.1 This specification describes the requirements for coatings of autocatalytic nickel boron deposited from aqueous solutions onto
substrates for engineering (functional) use. The specification classifies these coatings into two types:
1.1.1 Type 1 coatingsCoatings have a boron content of 0.1 to less than 3.5 mass percent with the balance nickel.
1.1.2 Type 2 coatingsCoatings have a boron content of 3.5 to 6 mass percent and a minimum of 90 mass percent nickel.
1.2 Nickel boron coatings are produced by autocatalytic (electroless) deposition from aqueous solutions. These solutions contain
either an alkylamineborane or sodium borohydride as a reducing agent, a source of nickel ions, a buffer, complexant, and control
chemicals.
1.3 The coatings are hard and uniform in thickness, even on irregular shaped parts, and used in a wide range of applications.
1.4 Process solutions formulated with an alkylamineborane usually produce coatings that contain 0.1 to 3.5 % boron. Thin
coatings of this type provide bondability and solderability on electronic components such as lead frames, electrical contacts, and
headers. To maintain solderability, these coatings are generally not heat treated.
1.5 Process solutions formulated with sodium borohydride are strongly alkaline and are frequently used to plate steel and titanium
parts to impart surface hardness and wear resistance properties. Deposits produced from these processes can contain 3 to 5 % boron
and thallium or other metals which are used to stabilize the plating solution and modify the coating properties.
1.6 The physical and mechanical properties of these deposits such as density, hardness, stress, and melting point will vary with
the boron content. The variation of boron content also affects the quantity and structure of nickel boride precipitated during heat
treatment. In the as-plated condition, the deposit consists of a predominantly amorphous mixture of nickel and boron with a
hardness of about 700 HKN. When the deposit is heated above 300°C300 °C, the nickel crystallizes, forming nickel clusters of
Ni (111) and boron precipitates as nickel boride, Ni B (211) and (311), increasing the hardness to greater than 1000 HK for Type
3 100
2 coatings.
1
This specification 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 Nov. 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2021. Published November 2015October 2021. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 20142015
as B607 – 91 (2014).B607 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/B0607-15.10.1520/B0607-21.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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B607 − 21
1.7 The nickel boron coatings are microporous and offer limited corrosion protection. Their columnar structure, however, is
beneficial in reducing wear because it provides a means of trapping lubricants within the surface of the coated part.
1.8 This document describes only autocatalytic nickel boron coatings that have been produced without use of external electric
sources.
1.9 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1.10 The following hazards caveat pertains only to the Test Methods section of this specification: This standard does not purport
to address the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate
safety safety, health, and healthenvironment
...
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