ASTM B183-79(2009)
(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 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 − 79 (Reapproved 2009)
StandardPractice 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.
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 Guide B242.
4.1 All solutions should be subject to chemical control,
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
including determinations of the free acid and iron contents of
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. the pickling solutions and acid dips, and such tests of the
cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 Based on tests and experience, all solutions should be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
discarded before they have lost their effectiveness.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.3 To conserve cleaning and pickling solutions and to
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ensure continuous operation when heavy production is
involved, doubling of facilities in the same line of operation
2. Referenced Documents
2 may be desirable.This arrangement will result in a high degree
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of contamination of the first of two solutions of the same kind
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-
while the second ones will be sufficiently clean to continue to
troplating
use. It will also reduce the degree of contamination of
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
subsequent solutions, for example, by oil and grease.
3. Nature of Cleaning
4.4 As an alternative to the procedure described in 4.3, the
3.1 The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating cleaner and pickle tanks may be provided with a large dam
overflow and a pump having its intake placed about half-way
involves three basic steps in the following order:
3.1.1 Removal of oil, grease, and caked-on dirt, down the overflow dam between the accumulated grease and
3.1.2 Removal of scale and oxide films by “pickling,” and oil on top and the settled-out solid dirt at the bottom, and
3.1.3 Removal of any smut left on the surface after step having its outlet placed near the bottom of the tank at the end
3.1.2 and activation of the steel. opposite to the dam overflow.
4.5 Separate tank electrodes, removable from the tank for
inspection and cleaning, should be used. Contact hooks for the
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
electrodes should be of the inverted V-type for round tank bars
and Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on
and should be of sufficient size to carry the required current.
Pre Treatment.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally
´1
4.6 Rinse tanks should be arranged with a dam overflow,
approved in 1943. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as B183 – 79 (2004) .
DOI: 10.1520/B0183-79R09.
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
B183 − 79 (Reapproved 2009)
4.7 Heatingcoilsshouldbeplacedonthework-piecesideof When using this method it must be followed by a water rinse
the tank in order to assure a working surface free from grease (5.4), an acid dip (5.5), and water rinse (5.4).
accumulation.
5.7 Water Rinse—Rinse the part again, as described in 5.4
but in a separate tank.
5. Procedure for Racked Parts
5.1 The cycle described in 5.2 to 5.6 should be used for the
6. Variations in Procedure for Racked Parts
preparation of racked parts subsequently electroplated in still
6.1 Consideration should be given to separate precleaning
tanks, agitated tanks, semi- and full-automatic equipment,
between manufacturing operations; for example, between gear-
except in those cases described in Section 6.
cutting and deburring operations, and between drawing or
5.2 Precleaning—In general, it is necessary to remove
stamping and buffing operations.
fabricating lubricants, buffing compounds, and other soils by
6.2 Vapor phase degreasing with chlorinated solvents is an
precleaning. This precleaning may be accomplished with
excellent way to remove mineral oil form recesses such as
alkaline soak cleaners, cleaners designed to remove buffing
overlapping joints that cannot be cleaned by any other method.
compounds (including the use of ultrasonic cleaners), alkaline
spray cleaners, and the use of chlorinated solvents such as
6.3 Plants with limited facilities sometimes omit preclean-
trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in vapor-type degreas-
ing especially with work that is not too heavily soiled. This is
ing equipment, or by use of cold chlorinated solvents if vapor
permissible; however, electrocleaning time may have to be
equipment is not available. Precleaning normally should be
increased and it is almost always necessary to change electro-
accomplished as soon as possible after fabrication because
cleaners more frequently. Likewise, close control is necessary
many stamping lubricants and buffing compounds become
to ensure proper electrocleaner concentration at all times.
much more difficult to remove if allowed to age on the steel
6.4 While pickling in strong hydrochloric acid or acid salts
surface and can chemically attack th
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.