ASTM B984-12
(Specification)Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Palladium- Cobalt Alloy for Engineering Use
Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Palladium- Cobalt Alloy for Engineering Use
ABSTRACT
This specification covers requirements for electrodeposited palladium-cobalt alloy coatings containing approximately 80% of palladium and 20% of cobalt. It also covers composite coatings consisting of palladium-cobalt with a thin gold overplate for applications involving electrical contacts. Palladium and palladium-cobalt remain competitive finishes for high reliability applications. The specification deals with material classification, ordering information, materials and manufacture, coating requirements, sampling, test methods, special government requirements, and other requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers requirements for electrodeposited palladium-cobalt alloy coatings containing approximately 80% of palladium and 20% of cobalt. Composite coatings consisting of palladium-cobalt with a thin gold overplate for applications involving electrical contacts are also covered. Palladium and palladium-cobalt remain competitive finishes for high reliability applications.
1.2 Properties—Palladium is the lightest and least noble of the platinum group metals (1)2. IIt has the density of 12 gm per cubic centimeter, specific gravity of 12.0, that is substantially lower than the density of gold, 19.29 gm per cubic centimeter, specific gravity 19.3, and platinum 21.48 gm per cubic centimeter, specific gravity 21.5. The density of cobalt on the other hand is even less than palladium. It is only 8.69 gm per cubic centimeter, specific gravity 8.7. This yields a greater volume or thickness of coating and, consequently, some saving of metal weight and reduced cost. Palladium-cobalt coated surface provides a hard surface finish (ASTM E18) thus decreasing wear and increasing durability. Palladium-cobalt coated surface also has very low coefficient of friction 0.43 compared to hard gold 0.60 thus providing lower mating and unmating forces for electrical contacts (1) 2. Palladium-cobalt has smaller grain size (ASTM E112), 50 – 150 Angstroms, compared to Hard Gold 200 – 250 Angstroms (1)2. 5 – 15 nanometer, compared to hard gold 20 – 25 nanometer (1)2. Palladium-cobalt has low porosity (ASTM B799) 0.2 porosity index compared to hard gold 3.7 porosity index (1)2. Palladium-cobalt coated surface has higher ductility (ASTM B489) 3-7 than that of hard gold 3,4).2TABLE 1 - Hardness of Noble Metals
Approximate Hardness (HK25)
Gold
50–250
Palladium
75–600
Platinum
150–550
Palladium-Nickel
300–650
Palladium-Cobalt
500–650
Rhodium
750–1100
Ruthenium
600–1300
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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. Some specific hazards statements are given in Section 7 on Hazards.
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Designation:B984 −12
Standard Specification for
Electrodeposited Coatings of Palladium- Cobalt Alloy for
1
Engineering Use
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B984; 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.
TABLE 1 - Hardness of Noble Metals
1. Scope
Approximate Hardness (HK )
25
1.1 Thisspecificationcoversrequirementsforelectrodepos-
Gold 50–250
ited palladium-cobalt alloy coatings containing approximately Palladium 75–600
Platinum 150–550
80% of palladium and 20% of cobalt. Composite coatings
Palladium-Nickel 300–650
consisting of palladium-cobalt with a thin gold overplate for
Palladium-Cobalt 500–650
applications involving electrical contacts are also covered. Rhodium 750–1100
Ruthenium 600–1300
Palladium and palladium-cobalt remain competitive finishes
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
for high reliability applications.
asstandard.Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthis
1.2 Properties—Palladium is the lightest and least noble of
standard.
2
theplatinumgroupmetals(1) .IIthasthedensityof12gmper
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
cubic centimeter, specific gravity of 12.0, that is substantially
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
lower than the density of gold, 19.29 gm per cubic centimeter,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specific gravity 19.3, and platinum 21.48 gm per cubic
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
centimeter, specific gravity 21.5. The density of cobalt on the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Some specific
other hand is even less than palladium. It is only 8.69 gm per
hazards statements are given in Section 7 on Hazards.
cubic centimeter, specific gravity 8.7. This yields a greater
volumeorthicknessofcoatingand,consequently,somesaving
2. Referenced Documents
of metal weight and reduced cost. Palladium-cobalt coated
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
surface provides a hard surface finish (ASTM E18) thus
B183Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for
decreasing wear and increasing durability. Palladium-cobalt
Electroplating
coated surface also has very low coefficient of friction 0.43
B242Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-
compared to hard gold 0.60 thus providing lower mating and
2 troplating
unmating forces for electrical contacts (1) . Palladium-cobalt
B254Practice for Preparation of and Electroplating on
has smaller grain size (ASTM E112), 50 – 150 Angstroms,
2 Stainless Steel
compared to Hard Gold 200 – 250 Angstroms (1).5–15
2
B281Practice for Preparation of Copper and Copper-Base
nanometer, compared to hard gold 20 – 25 nanometer (1) .
Alloys for Electroplating and Conversion Coatings
Palladium-cobalt has low porosity (ASTM B799) 0.2 porosity
2
B322Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
index compared to hard gold 3.7 porosity index (1) .
B343Practice for Preparation of Nickel for Electroplating
Palladium-cobalt coated surface has higher ductility (ASTM
with Nickel
B489)3-7thanthatofhardgold<3(1)2.Thepalladium-cobalt
B374Terminology Relating to Electroplating
coated surface is also thermally more stable 395°C than hard
B481Practice for Preparation of Titanium and Titanium
gold150°C,andsilver170°C.ThefollowingTable1compares
Alloys for Electroplating
the hardness range of electrodeposited palladium-cobalt with
2 B482Practice for Preparation of Tungsten and Tungsten
other electrodeposited noble metals and alloys (3,4).
Alloys for Electroplating
B487Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on
Cross Section
Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B08.04 on Precious Metal Coatings.
3
Current edition approved May 1, 2012. Published September 2012. DOI: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
10.1520/B0984-12 contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
this specification. the ASTM website.
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B984−12
B488Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Gold thicknessofunderplatingisusuallygreaterthan1µm.Forhigh
for Engineering Uses energy electrical contact the thickness ma
...
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