ASTM B995-15a

Standard Test Method for Chloride Resistance Test for Chromium Electroplated Parts (Russian Mud Test)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This test replicates in the laboratory the corrosive actions of a film containing hygroscopic chlorides and solid material (mud) on electroplated chromium. The test’s reactive media, the test slurry, was developed to simulate the film found on electroplated chromium deposits during a winter in Russia, thus the common name for the test, Russian Mud Test.  
3.2 This test is used for specification acceptance, simulated service evaluation, manufacturing control, and research and development. It was developed specifically for use on components with electrodeposited chromium coatings exposed to hygroscopic chlorides. Test and production specimens may be used. Use of a standardized test could help in developing improved quality of chromium electrodeposited components and lead to the development of improved electroplated chromium systems.  
3.3 This test simulates the amount of electrodeposited decorative and functional chromium deposit lost when exposed to the combination of “mud/solid material” and hygroscopic chlorides, most commonly calcium chloride. The metric is the loss of only the chromium and adjacent nickel layer. Other tests used with nickel/chromium electroplated components, such as CASS (Test Method B368), simulate the resistance of the part to basis metal corrosion involving all of the component’s deposits and substrate.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard details a laboratory method to accelerate the effects of exposure to hygroscopic corrosive chloride compounds on electroplated chromium components. It is applicable to any substrate and coating system that utilizes electroplated chromium as the final metallic coating.  
1.2 Field experience has shown that hygroscopic chlorides are significantly more aggressive than sodium chloride toward chromium electroplated deposits. The most common of which is calcium chloride.  
1.3 The standard does not specify exposure periods to be used for a specific product nor the interpretation to be given to the results. The suitability of this test and correlation of results with service experience should be determined before it is specified for coating systems.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 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-2015
• ICS: 25.220.40 - Metallic coatings
• Technical Committee: B08 - Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
• Drafting Committee: B08.10 - Test Methods

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: B995 − 15a
Standard Test Method for
Chloride Resistance Test for Chromium Electroplated Parts
1
(Russian Mud Test)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B995; 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.
1. Scope 3. Significance and Use
1.1 This standard details a laboratory method to accelerate 3.1 This test replicates in the laboratory the corrosive
actions of a film containing hygroscopic chlorides and solid
the effects of exposure to hygroscopic corrosive chloride
compounds on electroplated chromium components. It is material (mud) on electroplated chromium. The test’s reactive
media,thetestslurry,wasdevelopedtosimulatethefilmfound
applicable to any substrate and coating system that utilizes
electroplated chromium as the final metallic coating. on electroplated chromium deposits during a winter in Russia,
thus the common name for the test, Russian Mud Test.
1.2 Field experience has shown that hygroscopic chlorides
3.2 This test is used for specification acceptance, simulated
are significantly more aggressive than sodium chloride toward
service evaluation, manufacturing control, and research and
chromium electroplated deposits. The most common of which
development. It was developed specifically for use on compo-
is calcium chloride.
nents with electrodeposited chromium coatings exposed to
1.3 The standard does not specify exposure periods to be
hygroscopic chlorides. Test and production specimens may be
used for a specific product nor the interpretation to be given to
used. Use of a standardized test could help in developing
the results.The suitability of this test and correlation of results
improved quality of chromium electrodeposited components
with service experience should be determined before it is
and lead to the development of improved electroplated chro-
specified for coating systems.
mium systems.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.3 This test simulates the amount of electrodeposited
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
decorativeandfunctionalchromiumdepositlostwhenexposed
standard.
to the combination of “mud/solid material” and hygroscopic
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
chlorides, most commonly calcium chloride. The metric is the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
lossofonlythechromiumandadjacentnickellayer.Othertests
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
used with nickel/chromium electroplated components, such as
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
CASS (Test Method B368), simulate the resistance of the part
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
to basis metal corrosion involving all of the component’s
deposits and substrate.
2. Referenced Documents
2 4. Apparatus
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B117Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus 4.1 The apparatus required for this test consists of an
B368Test Method for Copper-AcceleratedAceticAcid-Salt environment chamber capable of controlling both temperature
Spray (Fog) Testing (CASS Test) andhumiditywithinthespecifiedrange(see7.4).Thechamber
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
must be large enough to hold the test specimens without
touching one another or the walls of the chamber. Also, the
reaction products formed on one specimen shall not fall on
anotherspecimen.Materialsofconstructionshallnotaffectthe
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB08onMetallic
corrosiveness of the test environment, nor be themselves
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on
Test Methods.
corroded by the test environment. Practice B117 offers a guide
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2015. Published December 2015. Originally
for chamber design.
approved in May 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as B995 – 15. DOI:
10.1520/B995-15A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 5. Reagents and Materials
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1 Table 1 specifies the laboratory grade consumable ma-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. terials used in this test.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B995 − 15a
TABLE 1 ACS Reagent-Grade or Equivalent Consumable
6.3 Theshelflifeofthestocksolution(6.1)is1month.The
Materials
shelf life of the test slurry (6.2)is12h.
Item Name
...

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: B995 − 15 B995 − 15a
Standard Test Method for
Chloride Resistance Test for Chromium Electroplated Parts
1
(Russian Mud Test)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B995; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This standard details a laboratory method to accelerate the effects of exposure to hygroscopic corrosive chloride compounds
on electroplated chromium components. It is applicable to any substrate and coating system that utilizes electroplated chromium
as the final metallic coating.
1.2 Field experience has shown that hygroscopic chlorides are significantly more aggressive than sodium chloride toward
chromium electroplated deposits than sodium chloride. deposits. The most common of which is calcium chloride. Corrosion caused
by these chlorides is commonly known as the Russian Mud effect.
1.3 The standard does not specify exposure periods to be used for a specific product nor the interpretation to be given to the
results. The suitability of this test and correlation of results with service experience should be determined before it is specified for
coating systems.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
B368 Test Method for Copper-Accelerated Acetic Acid-Salt Spray (Fog) Testing (CASS Test)
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test replicates in the laboratory the corrosive actions of a film containing hygroscopic chlorides and solid material
(mud) on electroplated chromium. The test’s reactive media, the test slurry, was developed to simulate the film found on
electroplated chromium deposits during a winter in Russia, thus the common name for the test, Russian Mud Test.
3.2 This test is used for specification acceptance, simulated service evaluation, manufacturing control, and research and
development. It was developed specifically for use on components with electrodeposited chromium coatings exposed to
hygroscopic chlorides. Test and production specimens may be used. Use of a standardized test could help in developing improved
quality of chromium electrodeposited components and lead to the development of improved electroplated chromium systems.
3.3 This test simulates the amount of electrodeposited decorative and functional chromium deposit lost when exposed to the
combination of “mud/solid material” and hygroscopic chlorides, most commonly calcium chloride. The metric is the loss of only
the chromium and adjacent nickel layer. Other tests used with nickel/chromium electroplated components, such as CASS (Test
Method B368), simulate the resistance of the part to basis metal corrosion involving all of the component’s deposits and substrate.
4. Apparatus
4.1 The apparatus required for this test consists of an environment chamber capable of controlling both temperature and
humidity within the specified range (see 6.47.4). The chamber must be large enough to hold the test specimens without touching
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on Test
Methods.
Current edition approved April 1, 2015Nov. 1, 2015. Published May 2015December 2015. Originally approved in May 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as
B995-15. DOI: 10.1520/B995–15.10.1520/B995–15A.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B995 − 15a
one another or the walls of the chamber. Also, the reaction products formed on one specimen shall not fall on another specimen.
Materials of construction shall not affect the corrosiveness of the test environment, nor be themselves corroded by the test
environment. Practice B117 offers a guide for chamber design.
5. Reagents and Materials
...