ASTM B183-18(2022)

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2022
• ICS: 25.220.10 - Surface preparation
• Technical Committee: B08 - Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
• Drafting Committee: B08.02 - Pre Treatment

Relations

• Refers: ASTM B242-99(2014) - Standard Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2014
• Refers: ASTM B322-99(2009) - Standard Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2009
• Refers: ASTM B242-99(2009) - Standard Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2009
• Refers: ASTM B322-99(2004) - Standard Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2004
• Refers: ASTM B242-99(2004)e1 - Standard Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2004
• Refers: ASTM B322-99 - Standard Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Refers: ASTM B242-99 - Standard Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel For Electroplating
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

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: B183 − 18 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Practice 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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.1 Removal of oil, grease, and caked-on dirt,
3.1.2 Removal of scale and oxide films by “pickling,” and
1.1 This practice is intended as an aid to electroplaters in
3.1.3 Removal of any smut left on the surface after step
setting up a suitable cleaning cycle preparatory to electroplat-
3.1.2 and activation of the steel.
ing of low-carbon steel (Note 1) containing less than 0.35
mass % of carbon and to indicate some of the precautions that
3.2 Removal from the steel of fabricating lubricants and
must be taken to maintain this cycle in good operating
finishing compounds may have to be undertaken by “preclean-
condition.
ing” before the articles reach the electroplating room. The
remainder of the operations should immediately precede the
NOTE 1—The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating is
electroplating.Insomeinstancesseparateremovalofsmutmay
covered in Guide B242.
not be necessary as in the case of parts which are barrel-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
electroplated and tumbled.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
4. Cleaning Solutions and Apparatus
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 All solutions should be subject to chemical control,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
including determinations of the free acid and iron contents of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the pickling solutions and acid dips, and such tests of the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
cleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.2 Based on tests and experience, all solutions should be
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
discarded before they have lost their effectiveness.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.3 To conserve cleaning and pickling solutions and to
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ensure continuous operation when heavy production is
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
involved, doubling of facilities in the same line of operation
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
may be desirable.This arrangement will result in a high degree
2. Referenced Documents
of contamination of the first of two solutions of the same kind
while the second ones will be sufficiently clean to continue to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
use. It will also reduce the degree of contamination of
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-
subsequent solutions, for example, by oil and grease.
troplating
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
4.4 As an alternative to the procedure described in 4.3, the
cleaner and pickle tanks may be provided with a large dam
3. Nature of Cleaning
overflow and a pump having its intake placed about half-way
3.1 The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating
down the overflow dam between the accumulated grease and
involves three basic steps in the following order:
oil on top and the settled-out solid dirt at the bottom, and
having its outlet placed near the bottom of the tank at the end
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
opposite to the dam overflow.
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on
Pre Treatment.
4.5 Separate tank electrodes, removable from the tank for
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published October 2022. Originally
inspection and cleaning, should be used. Contact hooks for the
approved in 1943. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as B183 – 18. DOI:
electrodes should be of the inverted V-type for round tank bars
10.1520/B0183-18R22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or and should be of sufficient size to carry the required current.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.6 Rinse tanks should be arranged with a dam overflow,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. and any water inlet other than a spray should be placed so as
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B183 − 18 (2022)
to ensure thorough circulation of the water and a large working
Sodium hydroxide 180 g /L
Sodium cyanide 120 g ⁄L
surface free from grease accumulation. An adequate flow of
Chelating agent
water is essential.
(EDTA-NTA gluconates) 80 g ⁄L
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
6.3 Plants with limited facilities sometimes omit preclean-
spray cleaners, and the use of chlorinated solvents such as
ing especially with work that is not too heavily soiled. This is
trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in vapor-type degreas-
permissible; however, electrocleaning time may have to be
ing equipment, or by use of cold chlorinated solvents if vapor
increased and it is almost always necessary to change electro-
equipment is not available. Precleaning normally should be
cleaners more frequently. Likewise, close control is necessary
accomplished as soon as p
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