Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Copper for Engineering Uses

ABSTRACT
This specification establishes the requirements for electrodeposited copper coatings used for engineering purposes including surface hardening, heat treatment stop-off, as an underplate for other engineering coatings, for electromagnetic interference shielding in electronic circuitry, and in certain joining operations. This specification does not cover electrodeposited copper used as a decorative finish, as an undercoat for other decorative finishes, or for electroforming. Coatings shall be classified according to thickness. Metal parts shall undergo pre- and post-coating treatment for reducing the risk of hydrogen embrittlement, and peening. Coatings shall be sampled, tested, and shall conform to specified requirements as to appearance, thickness, porosity, solderability, adhesion, embrittlement relief, and packaging.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers requirements for electrodeposited coatings of copper used for engineering purposes. Examples include surface hardening, heat treatment stop-off, as an underplate for other engineering coatings, for electromagnetic interferences (EMI) shielding in electronic circuitry, and in certain joining operations.  
1.2 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited copper when used as a decorative finish, or as an undercoat for other decorative finishes.  
1.3 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited copper when used for electroforming.

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30-Nov-2013
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ASTM B734-97(2013) - Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Copper for Engineering Uses
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:B734 −97 (Reapproved 2013)
Standard Specification for
Electrodeposited Copper for Engineering Uses
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B734; 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 parent or Opaque Coatings by Double-Beam Interference
Microscope Technique
1.1 This specification covers requirements for electrodepos-
B602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and
ited coatings of copper used for engineering purposes. Ex-
Inorganic Coatings
amples include surface hardening, heat treatment stop-off, as
B678 Test Method for Solderability of Metallic-Coated
an underplate for other engineering coatings, for electromag-
Products
netic interferences (EMI) shielding in electronic circuitry, and
B697 Guide for Selection of Sampling Plans for Inspection
in certain joining operations.
of Electrodeposited Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
1.2 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited
B762 Test Method of Variables Sampling of Metallic and
copper when used as a decorative finish, or as an undercoat for
Inorganic Coatings
other decorative finishes.
B765 GuideforSelectionofPorosityandGrossDefectTests
for Electrodeposits and Related Metallic Coatings
1.3 This specification is not intended for electrodeposited
copper when used for electroforming. B832 Guide for Electroforming with Nickel and Copper
B849 Specification for Pre-Treatments of Iron or Steel for
2. Referenced Documents
Reducing Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
B850 GuideforPost-CoatingTreatmentsofSteelforReduc-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ing the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
B320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electro-
B851 Specification for Automated Controlled Shot Peening
plating
of Metallic Articles Prior to Nickel, Autocatalytic Nickel,
B374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating
or Chromium Plating, or as Final Finish
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
D3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of
F519 Test Method for Mechanical Hydrogen Embrittlement
Cross Section
Evaluation of Plating/Coating Processes and Service En-
B499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses
vironments
by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on
2.2 Military Standard:
Magnetic Basis Metals
MIL-R-81841 Rotary Flap Peening of Metal Parts
B504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Metal-
MIL-S-13165 Shot Peening of Metal Parts
lic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
MIL-W-81840 Rotary Flap Peening Wheels
B507 Practice for Design of Articles to Be Electroplated on
Racks
3. Terminology
B568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
by X-Ray Spectrometry 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
B571 Practice for Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic 3.1.1 significant surfaces—those surfaces normally visible
Coatings (directlyorbyreflection)thatareessentialtotheappearanceor
B588 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Trans- serviceability of the article when assembled in a normal
position; or which can be the source of corrosion products that
deface visible surfaces on the assembled article. When
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on
necessary, the significant surface shall be indicated on the
Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
drawing of the article, or by the provision of suitably marked
B08.03 on Engineering Coatings.
samples.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2013. Published December 2013. Originally
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B734 – 97 (2008).
NOTE 1—When significant surfaces are involved on which the specified
DOI: 10.1520/B0734-97R13.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
the ASTM website. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094. Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B734−97 (2013)
thickness of coating cannot readily be controlled, such as threads, holes,
blisters, pits, roughness, cracks, flaking, burned deposits, and
deep recesses, and bases of angles, it will be necessary to apply thicker
uncoated areas. The boundaries of electroplating that cover
coatings on the more accessible surfaces, or to use special racking or both.
only a portion of the surface shall, after finishing as indicated
3.1.2 inspection lot—a collection of coated articles that; are
in the drawing, be free of beads, nodules, jagged edges and
of the same type; have been produced to the same specifica-
other detrimental irregularities. Imperfections and variations in
tions; have been coated by a single supplier at one time, or at
appearance in the coating that arise from surface conditions of
approximately the same time, under essentially identical con-
the basis metal (scratches, pores, roll marks, inclusions, etc.)
ditions; and are submitted for acceptance or rejection as a
and that persist in the finish despite the observance of good
group.
metal finishing practices shall not be cause for rejection.
3.2 Definitions—For definitions of the technical terms used
NOTE 3—Electroplated finishes generally perform better when the
in this specification see Terminology B374.
substrateoverwhichtheyareappliedissmoothandfreeofdeepscratches,
tornmetal,pores,inclusions,andotherdefects.Itisrecommendedthatthe
4. Classification specifications covering the unfinished product provide limits for these
defects. A metal finisher can often remove defects through special
4.1 The electrodeposited copper is classified according to
treatments such as grinding, polishing, abrasive blasting, and special
thickness of the electrodeposit in the following table:
chemical treatments. However, these are not normal treatment steps.
When they are desired, they must be agreed upon between the buyer and
Class Minimum Thickness, µm
the producer.
25 25
20 20
6.2 Thickness—The thickness of the copper coating on the
12 12
significant surfaces shall conform to the requirements of the
x Thickness specified
specified class as defined in Section 4.
NOTE 2—For electroforming applications, that require much thicker
NOTE 4—Variation in the coating thickness from point-to-point on a
applications, see Guide B832.
coated article is an inherent characteristic of electroplating processes.
Therefore, the coating thickness will have to exceed the specified value at
5. Ordering Information
some points on the significant surfaces to ensure that the thickness equals
orexceedsthespecifiedvalueatallpoints.Asaresult,theaveragecoating
5.1 The buyer shall supply to the producer in the purchase
thicknessonanarticlewillusuallybegreaterthanthespecifiedvalue;how
order or engineering drawings; marked samples or other
muchgreaterislargelydeterminedbytheshapeofthearticle(seePractice
governing documents the following information:
B507) and the characteristics of the electroplating process. Additionally,
5.1.1 Title, ASTM designation number (Specification
the average coating thickness on an article will vary from article to article
within a production lot. Therefore, if all of the articles in a production lot
B734), and date of issue.
are to meet the thickness requirement, the average coatingthicknessofthe
5.1.2 Classification or thickness of electrodeposited copper
production lot as a whole will be greater than the average necessary to
(see 4.1),
ensure that a single article meets the requirements.
5.1.3 Significant surfaces if other than defined in 3.1.1,
NOTE 5—When electroplating threaded parts such as machine screws,
5.1.4 Sampling plan (Section 7), care is required to avoid too much plate buildup on the crest of the thread.
In such applications a maximum plate thickness allowable on the crests
5.1.5 Number of test specimens for destructive testing
may require that thicknesses in other areas be thinner.
(Section 8), and
5.1.6 Thickness, adhesion, solderability, porosity and num- 6.3 Porosity—When specified, the coating shall be suffi-
ber of pores acceptable, or hydrogen embrittlement tests and ciently free of pores to pass the porosity test specified in 8.4.
methods required (Section 8).
6.4 Solderability—When specified, the coating shall meet
5.2 Where required, dimensional tolerances allowed for the
the requirements of Test Method B678.
specified electroplated copper thickness shall be specified.
6.5 Pretreatment of Iron and Steel for Reducing the Risk of
5.3 Inadditiontotherequirementsof5.1andwhentheparts
Hydrogen Embrittlement—Parts for critical applications that
to be electroplated are supplied to the electroplater by the
are made of steels with ultimate tensile strengths of 1000 MPa,
buyer, the buyer shall also supply the following information as
hardness of 31 HRC or greater, that have been machined,
required.
ground, cold formed, or cold straightened subsequent to heat
5.3.1 Identity of the base material by alloy identification
treatment, shall require stress relief heat treatment when
such as ASTM, AISI, or SAE numbers, or equivalent compo-
specified by the purchaser, the tensile strength to be supplied
sition information,
by the purchaser. Specification B849 may be consulted for a
5.3.2 Hardness of the parts, and
list of pretreatments that are used widely.
5.3.3 Heat treatment for stress relief, whether it has been
6.6 Post Coating Treatment of Iron and Steel for Reducing
performed or is required.
the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement—Parts for critical appli-
5.4 If required by either party, the manufacturer of the parts
cationsthataremadeofsteelswithultimatetensilestrengthsof
to be electroplated shall provide the electroplating facility with
1000 MPa, hardness of 31 HRC or greater, as well as surface
separate test specimens (see section 8.1).
hardened parts, shall require post coating hydrogen embrittle-
ment relief baking when specified by the purchaser, the tensile
6. Coating Requirements
strength to be supplied by the purchaser. Specification B850
6.1 Appearance—The coating on the significant surfaces of may be consulted for a list of post treatments that are used
the product shall be smooth and free of visual defects such as widely.
B734−97 (2013)
because, for example, the articles are expensive or few in number. The
6.7 Peening of Metal Parts—If peening is required before
specimen should duplicate the characteristics of the article that influence
electroplating to induce residual compressive stress to i
...

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