ASTM B254-92(2014)

Standard Practice for Preparation of and Electroplating on Stainless Steel

ABSTRACT
This practice covers the preparation and electroplating of metals on stainless steel. The preparation of stainless steel for electroplating involves three basic steps in the following order: removal of scale, removal of oil, grease, or other foreign material by cleaning, and activation immediately before electroplating. Activation shall be done by removing the thin transparent film of oxides from the surface to be electroplated. This film will reform if the parts are allowed to dry or are exposed to oxygen-containing solutions. For this reason, the shortest interval practicable should elapse between the time the parts are removed from the activating solution and covered by the electrodeposit, unless a simultaneous activation-electroplating procedure is used. The parts should be transferred to the cold-water rinse and to the plating solution as rapidly as practicable after the activating procedure; otherwise the surface will passivate itself and the electrodeposit will not be adherent. The rinse water should be kept slightly acid. After activation, an adherent electrodeposit of commonly electroplated metals like cadmium, copper, brass, chromium, gold, nickel, or silver may be electrodeposited directly on stainless steel provided the surface of the stainless steel. After stripping with nitric acid, post electroplating operations such as stress relieving, buffing or coloring, and forming or drawing may be applied to stainless steel in the same manner as to any other basis metal, as long as the natural differences in the characteristic of the stainless steel are taken into consideration. The methods of testing for thickness, hardness, and adhesion of electrodeposits applied with the usual basis metals may be employed for similar tests on stainless steel.
SCOPE
1.1 Various metals are electrodeposited on stainless steel for color matching, lubrication during cold heading, spring-coiling and wire-drawing operations, reduction of scaling at high temperatures, improvement of wettability (as in fountain pens), improvement of heat and electrical conductance, prevention of galling, jewelry decoration, and prevention of superficial rusting.  
1.2 This practice is presented as an aid to electroplaters and finishing engineers, confronted with problems inherent in the electrodeposition of metals on stainless steel. It is not a standardized procedure but a guide to the production of smooth adherent electrodeposits on stainless steel.  
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

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2014
• ICS: 77.140.20 - Stainless steels
• 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: B254 − 92 (Reapproved 2014) Endorsed by American
Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National Associa-
tion of Metal Finishers
Standard Practice for
1
Preparation of and Electroplating on Stainless Steel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B254; 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 of the stainless steel with which he is working before outlining
his electrodeposition procedure (see Appendix X1).
1.1 Various metals are electrodeposited on stainless steel for
color matching, lubrication during cold heading, spring-coiling
3.2 Stainless steel surfaces are normally resistant to a wide
and wire-drawing operations, reduction of scaling at high
variety of corrosive elements. This property is the result of a
temperatures,improvementofwettability(asinfountainpens),
thin transparent film of oxides present on the surface. Because
improvement of heat and electrical conductance, prevention of
this film rapidly reforms after it has been stripped off or
galling, jewelry decoration, and prevention of superficial
penetrated, it protects stainless steel against corrosion. An
rusting.
adherent electrodeposit cannot be obtained over the oxide film
normally present on stainless steel. However, once this film is
1.2 This practice is presented as an aid to electroplaters and
removed by surface activation and kept from reforming while
finishing engineers, confronted with problems inherent in the
the surface is covered with an electrodeposit, any of the
electrodeposition of metals on stainless steel. It is not a
commonly electroplated metals may be electrodeposited suc-
standardizedprocedurebutaguidetotheproductionofsmooth
cessfully on stainless steel.
adherent electrodeposits on stainless steel.
3.3 Where the finished product is to be subjected to severe
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
exposure, the deposit produced by the proposed electroplating
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sequence should be tested under similar exposure conditions
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
before adoption, to determine whether the natural corrosion
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
resistance of the stainless steel has been impaired by the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
presence of the electrodeposit.
2. Referenced Documents
2 4. Nature of Cleaning
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A380 Practice for Cleaning, Descaling, and Passivation of
4.1 The preparation of stainless steel for electroplating
Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment, and Systems
involves three basic steps in the following order:
4.1.1 Removalofscale.Ifscaleremovalisnecessary,oneof
3. Nature of Stainless Steel
the methods outlined in Appendix X2 may be used (Note 1).
See also Practice A380.
3.1 Because previous metal treatment may have a more
4.1.2 Removal of oil, grease, or other foreign material by
pronounced effect on the final finish when stainless steel is
cleaning, and
being electroplated, the metal finisher should become ac-
quainted with the fabrication procedure, grade, and mill finish 4.1.3 Activation immediately before electroplating.
4.2 Precleaning—Removal of fabricating lubricants and
finishing compounds from the stainless steel may have to be
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
undertaken immediately following the fabrication or finishing
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on
operation (Note 2).
Pre Treatment.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014. Published November 2014. Originally
4.3 Electrocleaning—Anodiccleaningisgenerallypreferred
approved in 1951. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as B254–92(2009). DOI:
(Note 3).
10.1520/B0254-92R14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.4 Metal Lubricants—Metal lubricants such as copper,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
lead, or cadmium, applied to stainless steel wire for cold
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. heading, wire drawing, or spring forming are removed by
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B254 − 92 (2014)
immersioninasolutionof200mLofconcentrated,67mass %, Hydrochloric acid: 31 mass %; density 1.16 g/mL
nitricacid(
...

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: B254 − 92 (Reapproved 2009) B254 − 92 (Reapproved 2014) Endorsed by American
Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National Associa-
tion of Metal Finishers
Standard Practice for
1
Preparation of and Electroplating on Stainless Steel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B254; 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 Various metals are electrodeposited on stainless steel for color matching, lubrication during cold heading, spring-coiling and
wire-drawing operations, reduction of scaling at high temperatures, improvement of wettability (as in fountain pens), improvement
of heat and electrical conductance, prevention of galling, jewelry decoration, and prevention of superficial rusting.
1.2 This practice is presented as an aid to electroplaters and finishing engineers, confronted with problems inherent in the
electrodeposition of metals on stainless steel. It is not a standardized procedure but a guide to the production of smooth adherent
electrodeposits on stainless steel.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A380 Practice for Cleaning, Descaling, and Passivation of Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment, and Systems
3. Nature of Stainless Steel
3.1 Because previous metal treatment may have a more pronounced effect on the final finish when stainless steel is being
electroplated, the metal finisher should become acquainted with the fabrication procedure, grade, and mill finish of the stainless
steel with which he is working before outlining his electrodeposition procedure (see Appendix X1).
3.2 Stainless steel surfaces are normally resistant to a wide variety of corrosive elements. This property is the result of a thin
transparent film of oxides present on the surface. Because this film rapidly reforms after it has been stripped off or penetrated, it
protects stainless steel against corrosion. An adherent electrodeposit cannot be obtained over the oxide film normally present on
stainless steel. However, once this film is removed by surface activation and kept from reforming while the surface is covered with
an electrodeposit, any of the commonly electroplated metals may be electrodeposited successfully on stainless steel.
3.3 Where the finished product is to be subjected to severe exposure, the deposit produced by the proposed electroplating
sequence should be tested under similar exposure conditions before adoption, to determine whether the natural corrosion resistance
of the stainless steel has been impaired by the presence of the electrodeposit.
4. Nature of Cleaning
4.1 The preparation of stainless steel for electroplating involves three basic steps in the following order:
4.1.1 Removal of scale. If scale removal is necessary, one of the methods outlined in Appendix X2 may be used (Note 1). See
also Practice A380.
4.1.2 Removal of oil, grease, or other foreign material by cleaning, and
4.1.3 Activation immediately before electroplating.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on Pre
Treatment.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2009Nov. 1, 2014. Published December 2009November 2014. Originally approved in 1951. Last previous edition approved in 20042009
ε1
as B254B254–92(2009).–92 (2004) . DOI: 10.1520/B0254-92R09.10.1520/B0254-92R14.
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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B254 − 92 (2014)
4.2 Precleaning—Removal of fabricating lubricants and finishing compounds from the stainless steel may have to be undertaken
immediately following
...