B08.02 - Pre Treatment

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the pre-treatment procedures of iron or steel for reducing the susceptibility or degree thereof to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, chemical conversion coating, and phosphating.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers procedures for reducing the susceptibility or degree of susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, chemical conversion coating, and phosphating and the associated pretreatment processes. This specification is applicable to those steels whose properties are not affected adversely by baking at 190 °C to 230 °C or higher (see 6.1.1).  
1.2 The heat treatment procedures established herein have been shown to be effective for reducing the susceptibility of steel parts of tensile strength 1000 MPa or greater that have been machined, ground, cold-formed, or cold-straightened subsequent to heat treatment. This heat-treatment procedure is used prior to any operation capable of hydrogen charging the parts, such as the cleaning procedures prior to electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, and other chemical coating operations.  
Note 1: 1 MPa = 145.1 psi.  
1.3 This specification has been coordinated with ISO/DIS 9587 and is technically equivalent.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 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.

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.

ABSTRACT
This guide covers the standard procedure of performing post-coating heat treatment of some steels for reducing susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in the finishing processes. This heat treatment procedure shall be used after plating operations but prior to any secondary conversion coating operation. Except for surface-hardened and shot-peened parts, the choice of embrittlement-relief heat treatment and the corresponding treatment conditions shall be selected on the basis of actual tensile strength of the steel.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers procedures for reducing the susceptibility in some steels to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in the finishing processes.  
1.2 The heat treatment procedures established herein may be effective for reducing susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. This heat-treatment procedure shall be used after plating operations but prior to any secondary conversion coating operation.  
1.3 This guide has been coordinated with ISO/DIS 9588 and is technically equivalent.  
Note 1: The heat treatment does not guarantee complete freedom from the adverse effects of hydrogen degradation.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Various metals are deposited on aluminum alloys to obtain a decorative or engineering finish. The electroplates applied are usually chromium, nickel, copper, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, and combinations of these. Silver, tin, or gold is applied to electrical equipment to decrease contact resistance or to improve surface conductivity; brass, copper, nickel, or tin for assembly by soft soldering; chromium to reduce friction and obtain increased resistance to wear; zinc for threaded parts where organic lubricants are not permissible; tin or lead is frequently employed to reduce friction on bearing surfaces. Nickel plus chromium or copper plus nickel plus chromium is used in decorative applications. Nickel plus brass plus lacquer or copper plus nickel plus brass plus lacquer is also used for decorative finishes, sometimes with the brass oxidized and relieved in various ways.  
3.1.1 Electroless nickel may be applied as a barrier layer prior to other deposits, or for engineering purposes.  
3.2 The preparation of aluminum and aluminum alloy mandrels for electroforming is described in Practice B432.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers cleaning and conditioning treatments used before metal deposition (Section 5), and immersion deposit/strike procedures (Section 6) that enhance the adhesion of metals that are subsequently applied to aluminum products by electrodeposition or by autocatalytic chemical reduction.  
1.2 The following immersion deposit/strike procedures are covered:  
1.2.1 Zinc immersion with optional copper strike (6.3).  
1.2.2 Zinc immersion with neutral nickel strike (6.4).  
1.2.3 Zinc immersion with acetate-buffered, nickel glycolate strike (6.5).  
1.2.4 Zinc immersion with acid or alkaline electroless nickel strike.  
1.2.5 Tin immersion with bronze strike (6.6).  
1.3 From the processing point of view, these procedures are expected to give deposits on aluminum alloys that are approximately equivalent with respect to adherence. Corrosion performance is affected by many factors, however, including the procedure used to prepare the aluminum alloy for electroplating.  
1.4 This guide is intended to aid electroplaters in preparing aluminum and its alloys for electroplating.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 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. For specific precautionary statements see Section 7 and Appendix X1.  
1.7 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Metals are electroplated on magnesium for various purposes: solderability, RF grounding, hermetic sealing, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, appearance, and electrical conductivity, for example. Because magnesium is covered with a naturally occurring oxide film, usual procedures for the preparation of metals for autocatalytic or electrolytic plating cannot be used.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes two processes used for plating on magnesium and magnesium alloys: direct electroless nickel plating and zinc immersion. Some users report that the direct electroless nickel procedure does not produce quite as high a level of adhesion as zinc immersion.  
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.  For specific hazard statements, see 5.1.1 and 5.2.9.2.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Electrodeposits of chromium on chromium are produced in cases where it is desired to obtain a better performing coating, to reclaim plated parts that are defective, or restore worn chromium coatings to original dimensions.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a process guide (not as a standard procedure) for producing adherent electrodeposits of chromium on chromium for engineering use.  
1.2 Only well-known, generally practical methods using hexavalent chromium plating baths have been included. Some of the newer proprietary chromium plating processes produce chromium plating for which this process is unsuitable. Suppliers of the processes should be consulted.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.

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, 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.

ABSTRACT
This practice summarizes well-known, generally practical methods for producing adherent electrodeposits of nickel on nickel. The types of nickel for which an overplate of nickel may be desired are dull nickel, semi-bright nickel, bright nickel, and nickel strike. The following cleaning treatments may be used for all conditions and types of electrodeposited nickel: degreasing and electrolytic alkaline cleaning. The procedures should be used for etching or activating the nickel surface are the following: anodic treatment in concentrated sulfuric acid; anodic etching in sulfuric acid; anodic etching in watts-type bath; acid-nickel chloride treatment; etching by acid immersion; electropolishing treatment; and cathodic treatment.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice summarizes well-known, generally practical methods for producing adherent electrodeposits of nickel on nickel.  
1.2 Electrodeposits of nickel on nickel are produced, for example, to improve the performance of decorative coatings, to reclaim electroplated parts that are defective, and to resume nickel electroplating after interruptions in processing. Interruptions may be deliberate, for example, to machine the electrodeposit at an intermediate stage in the electrodeposition of thick nickel coatings. The interruptions may be unintentional, for example, resulting from equipment and power failures.  
1.3 To ensure good adhesion of nickel to nickel, precautions should be taken to avoid biopolar effects during nickel electroplating. This is of particular importance in return-type automatic plating machines where one rack follows another rack closely. Bipolar effects can be avoided by making the racks cathodic while they are entering or leaving the nickel tank. Separate current control on entry and exit stations is desirable.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 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.

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements for automated, controlled shot peening of metallic articles prior to electrolytic or autocatalytic deposition of nickel or chromium, or as a final finish, using shot made of cast steel, conditioned cut wire, or ceramic media. The process is applicable to those materials on which test work has shown it to be beneficial within given intensity ranges. It is not suitable for brittle materials. Hand peening and rotary flap peening are excluded specifically. Shot peening induces residual compressive stresses in the surface and near-surface layers of metallic articles, controlling or limiting the reduction in fatigue properties that occurs from nickel or chromium plating of the article, or the fatigue properties of unplated articles. It is a process for cold working surfaces by bombarding the product with shot of a solid and spherical nature propelled at a relatively high velocity. Cast steel, cut wire, and ceramic shot shall all be spherical in shape and shall all be free of sharp edges, corners, and broken pieces. Prior to shot peening, the following operations shall be done first: heat treatment, machining, grinding, flaw test, crack test, corrosion detection, cleaning, and masking. Peened surfaces shall be uniform in appearance and completely dented so that the original surface is obliterated entirely. After shot peening, the following methods shall be done: residual shot removal, surface finishing, chemical cleaning of nonferrous metals and their alloys, thermal and heat treatments, and corrosion protection.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Shot peening is a process for cold working surfaces by bombarding the product with shot of a solid and spherical nature propelled at a relatively high velocity. In general, shot peening will increase the fatigue life of a product that is subject to bending or torsional stress. It will improve resistance to stress corrosion cracking. It can be used to form parts or correct their shapes. See Appendix X1 for additional information.  
5.2 It is essential that the shot peening process parameters be controlled rigidly to ensure repeatability from part to part and lot to lot.  
5.3 This specification covers techniques and methods necessary for proper control of the shot peening process.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for automated, controlled shot peening of metallic articles prior to electrolytic or autocatalytic deposition of nickel or chromium, or as a final finish, using shot made of cast steel, conditioned cut wire, or ceramic media. The process is applicable to those materials on which test work has shown it to be beneficial within given intensity ranges. It is not suitable for brittle materials. Hand peening and rotary flap peening are excluded specifically.  
1.2 Shot peening induces residual compressive stresses in the surface and near-surface layers of metallic articles, controlling or limiting the reduction in fatigue properties that occurs from nickel or chromium plating of the article, or the fatigue properties of unplated articles.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 The performance and quality of electroplated articles depend upon the surface cleanliness and condition. Various metals are electroplated for decorative or engineering finishes. The common electroplates applied are usually copper, nickel, and chromium for decorative and functional uses. Electroplated articles are used in many industries such as the marine, automotive, plumbing fixtures, and appliance industries.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes the procedure for cleaning metal surfaces to obtain good adhesion of electrodeposited metals. The degree of cleanliness required for metals to be electroplated is greater than for most other finishes. Methods of removal of heat-treat or mill scale are not included in these methods, because they are covered in practices referring to specific metals. It should also be understood that while these procedures are broadly applicable, particular substrates may require certain specific cleaning procedures.  
1.2 Adequate cleaning requires a proper combination of cleaning procedures. The choice of these procedures must be based on a knowledge of the metals to be cleaned and of the soils to be removed. Because most experience and knowledge in cleaning have been obtained by suppliers of proprietary processes and formulations, these sources should be consulted before setting up a cleaning process.  
1.3 A treatment to remove tarnish, light rust, fingerprints, or oxides is usually provided before immersion of the piece in the electroplating tank. This treatment activates the metal and is usually accomplished in acid baths which also serve to neutralize the residual alkaline film from alkaline cleaning. Alkaline chelated derusting and cleaning solutions, alone or with sodium cyanide, used as a soak or electrocleaner, are often preferred before electroplating on ferrous alloys.  
1.4 Invariably several stages are necessary to provide adequate cleaning. These stages are discussed in three parts:
Part I—Precleaning (use of a solvent, emulsion, or alkaline spray) to remove the bulk of the soil.
Part II—Intermediate (alkaline) cleaning.
Part III—Final electrocleaning, to remove trace solids and especially adherent impurities.
Part IV—Trouble shooting.
Often, depending largely on the amount and type of soil on the workpieces as received, one or more of these stages may be eliminated or modified. Usually, even with light soils, it is advisable to retain multistage cleaning, thereby increasing the life and efficiency of the cleaning solutions.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (For more specific safety precautionary statements see Sections 11 and 16.)  
1.6 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.

ABSTRACT
This guide outlines the standard procedure for establishing and maintaining a preparatory cycle for electroplating on high carbon steel producing minimal hydrogen embrittlement and maximal adhesion of the electrodeposited metal. The reagents needed for this method are technical grade hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and water. Steel substrates shall conform to required hardness, hydrogen embrittlement, and surface oxidation characteristics, and quality. Proper preplating treatments such as precleaning, stress relief treatment, mechanical treatment, electrolytic anodic cleaning, hydrochloric acid treatment, treatment for smut removal, anodic acid etching, and electropolishing shall be performed. Coating adhesion and embrittlement shall be tested.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended as an aid in establishing and maintaining a preparatory cycle for electroplating on high-carbon steel (Note 1) producing a minimum of hydrogen embrittlement and maximum adhesion of the electrodeposited metal. For the purpose of this guide, steels containing 0.35 % of carbon or more, and case-hardened low-carbon steel, are defined as high-carbon steels. There is no generally recognized definite carbon content dividing high from low-carbon steels for electroplating purposes.  
Note 1: Electroplating of plain high-carbon steel introduced problems not found in similar operations on low-carbon steel. During the cleaning and electroplating cycle, high-carbon steel differs from low-carbon steel in regard to its greater tendency to become embrittled and the greater difficulty in obtaining maximum adhesion of the electrodeposit. The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating is covered in Practice B183.  
1.2 This guide does not apply to the electroplating of alloy steel. For methods of chromium electroplating directly on steel, see Guide B177.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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. For a specific hazards statement, see 3.1.  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 The preparation of lead and lead-alloy surfaces for electroplating is often critical to the successful performance of electrodeposited and autocatalytic metallic coatings.  
3.2 This standard outlines the process operation procedures and processing solutions required, that lead to satisfactory electrodeposited metallic coatings (including undercoating) on surfaces of lead and lead-alloys.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides methods for preparing lead or lead alloy products for the application of electroplated or autocatalytic coatings.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 A variety of metals can be electrodeposited on plastics for decorative or engineering purposes. The most widely used coating consists of three layers—copper plus nickel plus chromium—for decorative applications. However, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, other metals, and combinations of these are used for special purposes. The key to producing electroplated plastics of high quality lies in the care taken in preparing plastics for electroplating. The information contained in this practice is useful in controlling processes for the preparation of plastics for electroplating.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is a guide to the surface preparation of plastic materials for decorative and functional electroplating, where the sequence of chemical treatments may include: cleaning, conditioning, etching, neutralizing, catalyzing, accelerating, and autocatalytic metal deposition. Surface preparation also includes electrodeposition of metallic strike coatings immediately after autocatalytic metal deposition. These treatments result in the deposition of thin conductive metal films on the surface of molded-plastic materials, and are described in this practice.  
1.2 Once molded-plastics materials have been made conductive, they may be electroplated with a metal or combination of metals in conventional electroplating solutions. The electroplating solutions and their use are beyond the scope of this practice.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.4 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. (See Section 4.)  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The performance and quality of electroplated or conversion-coated zinc alloy die casting depends upon the surface cleanliness and condition. Various metals are electroplated or conversion coatings are established on zinc alloys for decorative or engineering finish. The common electroplates applied are usually copper, nickel, and chromium for decorative and functional uses. The common conversion coatings applied are phosphates, chromates, and anodized coatings. Electroplated zinc die castings and conversion coatings on zinc die castings are used in many industries such as the marine, automotive, plumbing fixtures, and appliance industries.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended as an aid in establishing and maintaining a procedure for preparing zinc alloy die castings for electroplating and conversion coatings. It is primarily intended for the preparation of Alloys UNS Z33521 (AG-40A) and UNS Z35530 (AC-41A) (Specification B86) for electroplating with copper, nickel, and chromium (Specification B456).  
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.

ABSTRACT
This practice contains two recommendations based on several reported practices for the process selection in electroplating on tungsten and tungsten alloys. Surfaces should be cleaned either by descaling, solvent cleaning, or alkaline soak cleaning before electroplating. Evaluating which of the suggested processes to use is dependent on the application of the produced coating.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice makes recommendations of several reported practices for electroplating on tungsten and its alloys along with comments as a guide in the selection of a processing method for a given application. Because data on methods and results of evaluation with electroplated coatings on tungsten are limited, a recommendation of one method over another cannot be made.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.

ABSTRACT
This practice describes preparation processes of titanium and titanium alloys to produce adherent electrodeposits of good quality by electroplating. Not all of the processes that have been reported as successful are described, but rather three basic ones that have had the widest use. The purity of reagents and water that shall be used in each process are given. The three processes consist of (1) cleaning by conventional methods such as vapor degreasing, alkaline cleaning, grinding, or blasting, and (2) activating. The first process involves activation by chemical etching which shall be done in the following order of procedure: pickling, rinsing, etching, rinsing, electroplating, and heat treatment. The second process involves activation by electrochemical etching which shall be done by the same procedure as the first process, without the heat treatment step. The third process involves activation by liquid abrasive blasting which shall be done in the following order of procedure: blasting, electroplating, and heat treatment.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes processes that have been found to be successful in producing adherent electrodeposits of good quality on titanium and certain titanium alloys. Not all of the processes that have been reported as successful are described, but rather three basic ones that have had the widest use. A rather complete listing of the published work on electroplating on titanium is given in the list of references which appear at the end of this practice.  
1.2 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. For a specific hazard statement, see 3.1.  
1.3 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.

ABSTRACT
This practice serves as a guide for the preparation of nickel alloy substrates that shall undergo electroplating processes involving adherent nickel electrodeposits. Surface cleaning may be done either by degreasing (including vapor degreasing, solvent wash, emulsion cleaning, or soak cleaning), or electrolytic alkaline cleaning. The choice of cleaning procedure to use shall be decided upon by the condition of the surface. Conversely, surface activation treatment shall be performed either by anodic-cathodic sulfuric acid treatment, acid-nickel chloride treatment, or anodic etching in a low pH watts bath. The choice of activation treatment to employ shall be determined by the condition of the surface and the specific type of nickel alloy involved.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a guide for producing adherent electrodeposits of nickel on nickel alloys. Only those methods that are well known and generally practiced are included. Methods that have been used successfully but not on a broad scale are not included. Once nickel is applied, other metals may be electroplated on the product.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 Molybdenum is used in engineering applications where strength and rigidity of component parts are needed, especially at high temperatures. Its good strength at high temperatures, low vapor pressure, and good impact and creep resistance make it attractive for load-bearing items such as turbine blades, mechanical seals, rocket motor parts, heating elements, and electronic devices. Molybdenum, however, is easily oxidized, and the oxides are not protective. The volatility of the oxides above 800 °C can lead, in the case of unprotected parts, to catastrophic oxidation and to losses in dimensions. Electroplated coatings are applied to molybdenum to prevent oxidation, to prevent seizing and galling, and to assist joining by soldering, brazing, and diffusion bonding.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for preparing molybdenum and its alloys for electroplating. The procedure utilizes techniques, equipment, and chemicals that are common to electroplating. Specialized procedures such as hydrogen heat treatment and fused salt pickling are not included. These and other procedures can be found in the references listed at the end of this practice.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.

ABSTRACT
This practice covers preparation of iron castings for electroplating and is intended to assist electroplaters in establishing and maintaining a satisfactory pre-electroplating cycle for malleable iron, gray iron, nodular iron, and white iron castings. It is also intended to indicate certain foundry practices which will facilitate subsequent finishing. The seacoal content of the molding and facing sands should be maintained at the maximum practicable limits to minimize the occlusion of sand in the surfaces of the castings. The steps for the preparation of ferrous castings for electroplating are presented. The various solutions used for the treatment of malleable and gray iron castings should be maintained by chemical analysis so far as is practicable. When the amount of soil is excessive, particularly where no precleaning is done, it may be desirable to double the cleaning and pickling facilities. Where doubling the facilities is impossible or impracticable, similar economies may be obtained to a degree by providing cleaner and pickle tanks with overflow dams, sumps and pumps with which the solution may be recirculated. In electrified tanks removable electrodes should be employed in preference to using the tank as an electrode, to facilitate inspection and cleaning. All immersion rinse tanks should be equipped with dam-type overflows to ensure skimming of oil, grease, and light dirt from the surface of the water. The paper presents the cleaning procedure cycle generally used for racked parts which will subsequently electroplated in still tanks, semiautomatic equipment, and full-automatic equipment. The most reliable test of the effectiveness of the preplating cleaning cycle is the appearance of the electroplated part and its performance in service.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to assist electroplaters in establishing and maintaining a satisfactory pre-electroplating cycle for malleable iron, gray iron, nodular iron, and white iron castings. It is also intended to indicate certain foundry practices which will facilitate subsequent finishing. Most of the practices that follow have been based on experience with malleable and gray iron. However, since they are related to the other forms, the same practices will probably apply. Nodular iron is also known as spheroidal or ductile iron, which is defined as cast iron with the graphite substantially in spherical shape and substantially free of flake graphite.  
1.2 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in 2.1.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 The proper preparation of copper and copper alloy surfaces for electroplating, conversion coating, or autocatalytic plating is often critical to the performance of the coatings.  
3.2 This practice outlines procedures required to produce satisfactory coatings on surfaces of copper and copper alloy surfaces.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a guide for the proper preparation of copper and its alloys for electroplating and conversion coating. This practice is also suitable for use before autocatalytic plating. Only alloys containing at least 50 mass % copper are considered within the scope of this practice.  
1.2 The wide variety of methods of mechanical finishing are not considered strictly as preparation for electroplating or conversion coating and consequently are described only briefly.  
1.3 Details of electroplating and subsequent treatments for applying conversion coatings are not within the scope of this practice.  
1.4 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. For a specific hazard statement, see 6.5.2.  
1.5 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.

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the pre-treatment procedures of iron or steel for reducing the susceptibility or degree thereof to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, chemical conversion coating, and phosphating.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers procedures for reducing the susceptibility or degree of susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, chemical conversion coating, and phosphating and the associated pretreatment processes. This specification is applicable to those steels whose properties are not affected adversely by baking at 190 to 230 °C or higher (see 6.1.1).  
1.2 The heat treatment procedures established herein have been shown to be effective for reducing the susceptibility of steel parts of tensile strength 1000 MPa or greater that have been machined, ground, cold-formed, or cold-straightened subsequent to heat treatment. This heat-treatment procedure is used prior to any operation capable of hydrogen charging the parts, such as the cleaning procedures prior to electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, and other chemical coating operations.  
Note 1: 1 MPa = 145.1 psi.  
1.3 This specification has been coordinated with ISO/DIS 9587 and is technically equivalent.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 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.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Metals are electroplated on magnesium for various purposes: solderability, RF grounding, hermetic sealing, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, appearance, and electrical conductivity, for example. Because magnesium is covered with a naturally occurring oxide film, usual procedures for the preparation of metals for autocatalytic or electrolytic plating cannot be used.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes two processes used for plating on magnesium and magnesium alloys: direct electroless nickel plating and zinc immersion. Some users report that the direct electroless nickel procedure does not produce quite as high a level of adhesion as zinc immersion.  
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.  For specific hazard statements, see 5.1.1 and 5.2.9.2.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Various metals are deposited on aluminum alloys to obtain a decorative or engineering finish. The electroplates applied are usually chromium, nickel, copper, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, and combinations of these. Silver, tin, or gold is applied to electrical equipment to decrease contact resistance or to improve surface conductivity; brass, copper, nickel, or tin for assembly by soft soldering; chromium to reduce friction and obtain increased resistance to wear; zinc for threaded parts where organic lubricants are not permissible; tin or lead is frequently employed to reduce friction on bearing surfaces. Nickel plus chromium or copper plus nickel plus chromium is used in decorative applications. Nickel plus brass plus lacquer or copper plus nickel plus brass plus lacquer is also used for decorative finishes, sometimes with the brass oxidized and relieved in various ways.  
3.1.1 Electroless nickel may be applied as a barrier layer prior to other deposits, or for engineering purposes.  
3.2 The preparation of aluminum and aluminum alloy mandrels for electroforming is described in Practice B432.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers cleaning and conditioning treatments used before metal deposition (Section 5), and immersion deposit/strike procedures (Section 6) that enhance the adhesion of metals that are subsequently applied to aluminum products by electrodeposition or by autocatalytic chemical reduction.  
1.2 The following immersion deposit/strike procedures are covered:  
1.2.1 Zinc immersion with optional copper strike (6.3).  
1.2.2 Zinc immersion with neutral nickel strike (6.4).  
1.2.3 Zinc immersion with acetate-buffered, nickel glycolate strike (6.5).  
1.2.4 Zinc immersion with acid or alkaline electroless nickel strike.  
1.2.5 Tin immersion with bronze strike (6.6).  
1.3 From the processing point of view, these procedures are expected to give deposits on aluminum alloys that are approximately equivalent with respect to adherence. Corrosion performance is affected by many factors, however, including the procedure used to prepare the aluminum alloy for electroplating.  
1.4 This guide is intended to aid electroplaters in preparing aluminum and its alloys for electroplating.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 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. For specific precautionary statements see Section 7 and Appendix X1.  
1.7 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Electrodeposits of chromium on chromium are produced in cases where it is desired to obtain a better performing coating, to reclaim plated parts that are defective, or restore worn chromium coatings to original dimensions.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a process guide (not as a standard procedure) for producing adherent electrodeposits of chromium on chromium for engineering use.  
1.2 Only well-known, generally practical methods using hexavalent chromium plating baths have been included. Some of the newer proprietary chromium plating processes produce chromium plating for which this process is unsuitable. Suppliers of the processes should be consulted.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.

ABSTRACT
This guide covers the standard procedure of performing post-coating heat treatment of some steels for reducing susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in the finishing processes. This heat treatment procedure shall be used after plating operations but prior to any secondary conversion coating operation. Except for surface-hardened and shot-peened parts, the choice of embrittlement-relief heat treatment and the corresponding treatment conditions shall be selected on the basis of actual tensile strength of the steel.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers procedures for reducing the susceptibility in some steels to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in the finishing processes.  
1.2 The heat treatment procedures established herein may be effective for reducing susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. This heat-treatment procedure shall be used after plating operations but prior to any secondary conversion coating operation.  
1.3 This guide has been coordinated with ISO/DIS 9588 and is technically equivalent.  
Note 1: The heat treatment does not guarantee complete freedom from the adverse effects of hydrogen degradation.  
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.

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.

ABSTRACT
This practice summarizes well-known, generally practical methods for producing adherent electrodeposits of nickel on nickel. The types of nickel for which an overplate of nickel may be desired are dull nickel, semi-bright nickel, bright nickel, and nickel strike. The following cleaning treatments may be used for all conditions and types of electrodeposited nickel: degreasing and electrolytic alkaline cleaning. The procedures should be used for etching or activating the nickel surface are the following: anodic treatment in concentrated sulfuric acid; anodic etching in sulfuric acid; anodic etching in watts-type bath; acid-nickel chloride treatment; etching by acid immersion; electropolishing treatment; and cathodic treatment.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice summarizes well-known, generally practical methods for producing adherent electrodeposits of nickel on nickel.  
1.2 Electrodeposits of nickel on nickel are produced, for example, to improve the performance of decorative coatings, to reclaim electroplated parts that are defective, and to resume nickel electroplating after interruptions in processing. Interruptions may be deliberate, for example, to machine the electrodeposit at an intermediate stage in the electrodeposition of thick nickel coatings. The interruptions may be unintentional, for example, resulting from equipment and power failures.  
1.3 To ensure good adhesion of nickel to nickel, precautions should be taken to avoid biopolar effects during nickel electroplating. This is of particular importance in return-type automatic plating machines where one rack follows another rack closely. Bipolar effects can be avoided by making the racks cathodic while they are entering or leaving the nickel tank. Separate current control on entry and exit stations is desirable.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 The performance and quality of electroplated articles depend upon the surface cleanliness and condition. Various metals are electroplated for decorative or engineering finishes. The common electroplates applied are usually copper, nickel, and chromium for decorative and functional uses. Electroplated articles are used in many industries such as the marine, automotive, plumbing fixtures, and appliance industries.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes the procedure for cleaning metal surfaces to obtain good adhesion of electrodeposited metals. The degree of cleanliness required for metals to be electroplated is greater than for most other finishes. Methods of removal of heat-treat or mill scale are not included in these methods, because they are covered in practices referring to specific metals. It should also be understood that while these procedures are broadly applicable, particular substrates may require certain specific cleaning procedures.  
1.2 Adequate cleaning requires a proper combination of cleaning procedures. The choice of these procedures must be based on a knowledge of the metals to be cleaned and of the soils to be removed. Because most experience and knowledge in cleaning have been obtained by suppliers of proprietary processes and formulations, these sources should be consulted before setting up a cleaning process.  
1.3 A treatment to remove tarnish, light rust, fingerprints, or oxides is usually provided before immersion of the piece in the electroplating tank. This treatment activates the metal and is usually accomplished in acid baths which also serve to neutralize the residual alkaline film from alkaline cleaning. Alkaline chelated derusting and cleaning solutions, alone or with sodium cyanide, used as a soak or electrocleaner, are often preferred before electroplating on ferrous alloys.  
1.4 Invariably several stages are necessary to provide adequate cleaning. These stages are discussed in three parts:
Part I—Precleaning (use of a solvent, emulsion, or alkaline spray) to remove the bulk of the soil.
Part II—Intermediate (alkaline) cleaning.
Part III—Final electrocleaning, to remove trace solids and especially adherent impurities.
Part IV—Trouble shooting.
Often, depending largely on the amount and type of soil on the workpieces as received, one or more of these stages may be eliminated or modified. Usually, even with light soils, it is advisable to retain multistage cleaning, thereby increasing the life and efficiency of the cleaning solutions.  
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. (For more specific safety precautionary statements see Sections 11 and 16.)

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements for automated, controlled shot peening of metallic articles prior to electrolytic or autocatalytic deposition of nickel or chromium, or as a final finish, using shot made of cast steel, conditioned cut wire, or ceramic media. The process is applicable to those materials on which test work has shown it to be beneficial within given intensity ranges. It is not suitable for brittle materials. Hand peening and rotary flap peening are excluded specifically. Shot peening induces residual compressive stresses in the surface and near-surface layers of metallic articles, controlling or limiting the reduction in fatigue properties that occurs from nickel or chromium plating of the article, or the fatigue properties of unplated articles. It is a process for cold working surfaces by bombarding the product with shot of a solid and spherical nature propelled at a relatively high velocity. Cast steel, cut wire, and ceramic shot shall all be spherical in shape and shall all be free of sharp edges, corners, and broken pieces. Prior to shot peening, the following operations shall be done first: heat treatment, machining, grinding, flaw test, crack test, corrosion detection, cleaning, and masking. Peened surfaces shall be uniform in appearance and completely dented so that the original surface is obliterated entirely. After shot peening, the following methods shall be done: residual shot removal, surface finishing, chemical cleaning of nonferrous metals and their alloys, thermal and heat treatments, and corrosion protection.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Shot peening is a process for cold working surfaces by bombarding the product with shot of a solid and spherical nature propelled at a relatively high velocity. In general, shot peening will increase the fatigue life of a product that is subject to bending or torsional stress. It will improve resistance to stress corrosion cracking. It can be used to form parts or correct their shapes. See Appendix X1 for additional information.  
5.2 It is essential that the shot peening process parameters be controlled rigidly to ensure repeatability from part to part and lot to lot.  
5.3 This specification covers techniques and methods necessary for proper control of the shot peening process.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for automated, controlled shot peening of metallic articles prior to electrolytic or autocatalytic deposition of nickel or chromium, or as a final finish, using shot made of cast steel, conditioned cut wire, or ceramic media. The process is applicable to those materials on which test work has shown it to be beneficial within given intensity ranges. It is not suitable for brittle materials. Hand peening and rotary flap peening are excluded specifically.  
1.2 Shot peening induces residual compressive stresses in the surface and near-surface layers of metallic articles, controlling or limiting the reduction in fatigue properties that occurs from nickel or chromium plating of the article, or the fatigue properties of unplated articles.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The performance and quality of electroplated or conversion-coated zinc alloy die casting depends upon the surface cleanliness and condition. Various metals are electroplated or conversion coatings are established on zinc alloys for decorative or engineering finish. The common electroplates applied are usually copper, nickel, and chromium for decorative and functional uses. The common conversion coatings applied are phosphates, chromates, and anodized coatings. Electroplated zinc die castings and conversion coatings on zinc die castings are used in many industries such as the marine, automotive, plumbing fixtures, and appliance industries.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended as an aid in establishing and maintaining a procedure for preparing zinc alloy die castings for electroplating and conversion coatings. It is primarily intended for the preparation of Alloys UNS Z33521 (AG-40A) and UNS Z35530 (AC-41A) (Specification B86) for electroplating with copper, nickel, and chromium (Specification B456).  
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.

ABSTRACT
This guide outlines the standard procedure for establishing and maintaining a preparatory cycle for electroplating on high carbon steel producing minimal hydrogen embrittlement and maximal adhesion of the electrodeposited metal. The reagents needed for this method are technical grade hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and water. Steel substrates shall conform to required hardness, hydrogen embrittlement, and surface oxidation characteristics, and quality. Proper preplating treatments such as precleaning, stress relief treatment, mechanical treatment, electrolytic anodic cleaning, hydrochloric acid treatment, treatment for smut removal, anodic acid etching, and electropolishing shall be performed. Coating adhesion and embrittlement shall be tested.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended as an aid in establishing and maintaining a preparatory cycle for electroplating on high-carbon steel (Note 1) producing a minimum of hydrogen embrittlement and maximum adhesion of the electrodeposited metal. For the purpose of this guide, steels containing 0.35 % of carbon or more, and case-hardened low-carbon steel, are defined as high-carbon steels. There is no generally recognized definite carbon content dividing high from low-carbon steels for electroplating purposes.  
Note 1: Electroplating of plain high-carbon steel introduced problems not found in similar operations on low-carbon steel. During the cleaning and electroplating cycle, high-carbon steel differs from low-carbon steel in regard to its greater tendency to become embrittled and the greater difficulty in obtaining maximum adhesion of the electrodeposit. The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating is covered in Practice B183.  
1.2 This guide does not apply to the electroplating of alloy steel. For methods of chromium electroplating directly on steel see Guide B177.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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. For a specific hazards statement, see 3.1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 A variety of metals can be electrodeposited on plastics for decorative or engineering purposes. The most widely used coating consists of three layers—copper plus nickel plus chromium—for decorative applications. However, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, other metals, and combinations of these are used for special purposes. The key to producing electroplated plastics of high quality lies in the care taken in preparing plastics for electroplating. The information contained in this practice is useful in controlling processes for the preparation of plastics for electroplating.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is a guide to the surface preparation of plastic materials for decorative and functional electroplating, where the sequence of chemical treatments may include: cleaning, conditioning, etching, neutralizing, catalyzing, accelerating, and autocatalytic metal deposition. Surface preparation also includes electrodeposition of metallic strike coatings immediately after autocatalytic metal deposition. These treatments result in the deposition of thin conductive metal films on the surface of molded-plastic materials, and are described in this practice.  
1.2 Once molded-plastics materials have been made conductive, they may be electroplated with a metal or combination of metals in conventional electroplating solutions. The electroplating solutions and their use are beyond the scope of this practice.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.4 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. (See Section 4.)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 The preparation of lead and lead-alloy surfaces for electroplating is often critical to the successful performance of electrodeposited and autocatalytic metallic coatings.  
3.2 This standard outlines the process operation procedures and processing solutions required, that lead to satisfactory electrodeposited metallic coatings (including undercoating) on surfaces of lead and lead-alloys.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides methods for preparing lead or lead alloy products for the application of electroplated or autocatalytic coatings.  
1.2 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.

ABSTRACT
This guide outlines the standard procedure for establishing and maintaining a preparatory cycle for electroplating on high carbon steel producing minimal hydrogen embrittlement and maximal adhesion of the electrodeposited metal. The reagents needed for this method are technical grade hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and water. Steel substrates shall conform to required hardness, hydrogen embrittlement, and surface oxidation characteristics, and quality. Proper preplating treatments such as precleaning, stress relief treatment, mechanical treatment, electrolytic anodic cleaning, hydrochloric acid treatment, treatment for smut removal, anodic acid etching, and electropolishing shall be performed. Coating adhesion and embrittlement shall be tested.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended as an aid in establishing and maintaining a preparatory cycle for electroplating on high-carbon steel (Note 1) producing a minimum of hydrogen embrittlement and maximum adhesion of the electrodeposited metal. For the purpose of this guide, steels containing 0.35 % of carbon or more, and case-hardened low-carbon steel, are defined as high-carbon steels. There is no generally recognized definite carbon content dividing high from low-carbon steels for electroplating purposes.  
Note 1: Electroplating of plain high-carbon steel introduced problems not found in similar operations on low-carbon steel. During the cleaning and electroplating cycle, high-carbon steel differs from low-carbon steel in regard to its greater tendency to become embrittled and the greater difficulty in obtaining maximum adhesion of the electrodeposit. The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplating is covered in Practice B183.  
1.2 This guide does not apply to the electroplating of alloy steel. For methods of chromium electroplating directly on steel see Guide B177.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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. For a specific hazards statement, see 3.1.

ABSTRACT
This practice describes preparation processes of titanium and titanium alloys to produce adherent electrodeposits of good quality by electroplating. Not all of the processes that have been reported as successful are described, but rather three basic ones that have had the widest use. The purity of reagents and water that shall be used in each process are given. The three processes consist of (1) cleaning by conventional methods such as vapor degreasing, alkaline cleaning, grinding, or blasting, and (2) activating. The first process involves activation by chemical etching which shall be done in the following order of procedure: pickling, rinsing, etching, rinsing, electroplating, and heat treatment. The second process involves activation by electrochemical etching which shall be done by the same procedure as the first process, without the heat treatment step. The third process involves activation by liquid abrasive blasting which shall be done in the following order of procedure: blasting, electroplating, and heat treatment.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes processes that have been found to be successful in producing adherent electrodeposits of good quality on titanium and certain titanium alloys. Not all of the processes that have been reported as successful are described, but rather three basic ones that have had the widest use. A rather complete listing of the published work on electroplating on titanium is given in the list of references which appear at the end of this practice.  
1.2 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. For a specific hazard statement, see 3.1.

ABSTRACT
This practice covers preparation of iron castings for electroplating and is intended to assist electroplaters in establishing and maintaining a satisfactory pre-electroplating cycle for malleable iron, gray iron, nodular iron, and white iron castings. It is also intended to indicate certain foundry practices which will facilitate subsequent finishing. The seacoal content of the molding and facing sands should be maintained at the maximum practicable limits to minimize the occlusion of sand in the surfaces of the castings. The steps for the preparation of ferrous castings for electroplating are presented. The various solutions used for the treatment of malleable and gray iron castings should be maintained by chemical analysis so far as is practicable. When the amount of soil is excessive, particularly where no precleaning is done, it may be desirable to double the cleaning and pickling facilities. Where doubling the facilities is impossible or impracticable, similar economies may be obtained to a degree by providing cleaner and pickle tanks with overflow dams, sumps and pumps with which the solution may be recirculated. In electrified tanks removable electrodes should be employed in preference to using the tank as an electrode, to facilitate inspection and cleaning. All immersion rinse tanks should be equipped with dam-type overflows to ensure skimming of oil, grease, and light dirt from the surface of the water. The paper presents the cleaning procedure cycle generally used for racked parts which will subsequently electroplated in still tanks, semiautomatic equipment, and full-automatic equipment. The most reliable test of the effectiveness of the preplating cleaning cycle is the appearance of the electroplated part and its performance in service.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to assist electroplaters in establishing and maintaining a satisfactory pre-electroplating cycle for malleable iron, gray iron, nodular iron, and white iron castings. It is also intended to indicate certain foundry practices which will facilitate subsequent finishing. Most of the practices that follow have been based on experience with malleable and gray iron. However, since they are related to the other forms, the same practices will probably apply. Nodular iron is also known as spheroidal or ductile iron, which is defined as cast iron with the graphite substantially in spherical shape and substantially free of flake graphite.  
1.2 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in 2.1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 The proper preparation of copper and copper alloy surfaces for electroplating, conversion coating, or autocatalytic plating is often critical to the performance of the coatings.  
3.2 This practice outlines procedures required to produce satisfactory coatings on surfaces of copper and copper alloy surfaces.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a guide for the proper preparation of copper and its alloys for electroplating and conversion coating. This practice is also suitable for use before autocatalytic plating. Only alloys containing at least 50 mass % copper are considered within the scope of this practice.  
1.2 The wide variety of methods of mechanical finishing are not considered strictly as preparation for electroplating or conversion coating and consequently are described only briefly.  
1.3 Details of electroplating and subsequent treatments for applying conversion coatings are not within the scope of this practice.  
1.4 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. For a specific hazard statement, see 6.5.2.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 Molybdenum is used in engineering applications where strength and rigidity of component parts are needed, especially at high temperatures. Its good strength at high temperatures, low vapor pressure, and good impact and creep resistance make it attractive for load-bearing items such as turbine blades, mechanical seals, rocket motor parts, heating elements, and electronic devices. Molybdenum, however, is easily oxidized, and the oxides are not protective. The volatility of the oxides above 800°C can lead, in the case of unprotected parts, to catastrophic oxidation and to losses in dimensions. Electroplated coatings are applied to molybdenum to prevent oxidation, to prevent seizing and galling, and to assist joining by soldering, brazing, and diffusion bonding.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for preparing molybdenum and its alloys for electroplating. The procedure utilizes techniques, equipment, and chemicals that are common to electroplating. Specialized procedures such as hydrogen heat treatment and fused salt pickling are not included. These and other procedures can be found in the references listed at the end of this practice.  
1.2 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.

ABSTRACT
This practice contains two recommendations based on several reported practices for the process selection in electroplating on tungsten and tungsten alloys. Surfaces should be cleaned either by descaling, solvent cleaning, or alkaline soak cleaning before electroplating. Evaluating which of the suggested processes to use is dependent on the application of the produced coating.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice makes recommendations of several reported practices for electroplating on tungsten and its alloys along with comments as a guide in the selection of a processing method for a given application. Because data on methods and results of evaluation with electroplated coatings on tungsten are limited, a recommendation of one method over another cannot be made.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address 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.

ABSTRACT
This practice serves as a guide for the preparation of nickel alloy substrates that shall undergo electroplating processes involving adherent nickel electrodeposits. Surface cleaning may be done either by degreasing (including vapor degreasing, solvent wash, emulsion cleaning, or soak cleaning), or electrolytic alkaline cleaning. The choice of cleaning procedure to use shall be decided upon by the condition of the surface. Conversely, surface activation treatment shall be performed either by anodic-cathodic sulfuric acid treatment, acid-nickel chloride treatment, or anodic etching in a low pH watts bath. The choice of activation treatment to employ shall be determined by the condition of the surface and the specific type of nickel alloy involved.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a guide for producing adherent electrodeposits of nickel on nickel alloys. Only those methods that are well known and generally practiced are included. Methods that have been used successfully but not on a broad scale are not included. Once nickel is applied, other metals may be electroplated on the product.  
1.2 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.

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the pre-treatment procedures of iron or steel for reducing the susceptibility or degree thereof to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, chemical conversion coating, and phosphating.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers procedures for reducing the susceptibility or degree of susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, chemical conversion coating, and phosphating and the associated pretreatment processes. This specification is applicable to those steels whose properties are not affected adversely by baking at 190 to 230°C or higher (see 6.1.1).  
1.2 The heat treatment procedures established herein have been shown to be effective for reducing the susceptibility of steel parts of tensile strength 1000 MPa or greater that have been machined, ground, cold-formed, or cold-straightened subsequent to heat treatment. This heat-treatment procedure is used prior to any operation capable of hydrogen charging the parts, such as the cleaning procedures prior to electroplating, autocatalytic plating, porcelain enameling, and other chemical coating operations. Note 1—1 MPa = 145.1 psi.  
1.3 This specification has been coordinated with ISO/DIS 9587 and is technically equivalent.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Various metals are deposited on aluminum alloys to obtain a decorative or engineering finish. The electroplates applied are usually chromium, nickel, copper, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, and combinations of these. Silver, tin, or gold is applied to electrical equipment to decrease contact resistance or to improve surface conductivity; brass, copper, nickel, or tin for assembly by soft soldering; chromium to reduce friction and obtain increased resistance to wear; zinc for threaded parts where organic lubricants are not permissible; tin or lead is frequently employed to reduce friction on bearing surfaces. Nickel plus chromium or copper plus nickel plus chromium is used in decorative applications. Nickel plus brass plus lacquer or copper plus nickel plus brass plus lacquer is also used for decorative finishes, sometimes with the brass oxidized and relieved in various ways.
Electroless nickel may be applied as a barrier layer prior to other deposits, or for engineering purposes.
The preparation of aluminum and aluminum alloy mandrels for electroforming is described in Practice .
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers cleaning and conditioning treatments used before metal deposition (Section 5), and immersion deposit/strike procedures (Section 6) that enhance the adhesion of metals that are subsequently applied to aluminum products by electrodeposition or by autocatalytic chemical reduction.
1.2 The following immersion deposit/strike procedures are covered:
1.2.1 Zinc immersion with optional copper strike (6.3).
1.2.2 Zinc immersion with neutral nickel strike (6.4).
1.2.3 Zinc immersion with acetate-buffered, nickel glycolate strike (6.5).
1.2.4 Zinc immersion with acid or alkaline electroless nickel strike.
1.2.5 Tin immersion with bronze strike (6.6).
1.3 From the processing point of view, these procedures are expected to give deposits on aluminum alloys that are approximately equivalent with respect to adherence. Corrosion performance is affected by many factors, however, including the procedure used to prepare the aluminum alloy for electroplating.  
1.4 This guide is intended to aid electroplaters in preparing aluminum and its alloys for electroplating.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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. For specific precautionary statements see Section 7 and Appendix X1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Metals are electroplated on magnesium for various purposes: solderability, RF grounding, hermetic sealing, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, appearance, and electrical conductivity, for example. Because magnesium is covered with a naturally occurring oxide film, usual procedures for the preparation of metals for autocatalytic or electrolytic plating cannot be used.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes two processes used for plating on magnesium and magnesium alloys: direct electroless nickel plating and zinc immersion. Some users report that the direct electroless nickel procedure does not produce quite as high a level of adhesion as zinc immersion.
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.  For specific hazard statements, see 5.1.1 and 5.2.9.2.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Electrodeposits of chromium on chromium are produced in cases where it is desired to obtain a better performing coating, to reclaim plated parts that are defective, or restore worn chromium coatings to original dimensions.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended to serve as a process guide (not as a standard procedure) for producing adherent electrodeposits of chromium on chromium for engineering use.
1.2 Only well-known, generally practical methods using hexavalent chromium plating baths have been included. Some of the newer proprietary chromium plating processes produce chromium plating for which this process is unsuitable. Suppliers of the processes should be consulted.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Various metals are deposited on aluminum alloys to obtain a decorative or engineering finish. The electroplates applied are usually chromium, nickel, copper, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, and combinations of these. Silver, tin, or gold is applied to electrical equipment to decrease contact resistance or to improve surface conductivity; brass, copper, nickel, or tin for assembly by soft soldering; chromium to reduce friction and obtain increased resistance to wear; zinc for threaded parts where organic lubricants are not permissible; tin or lead is frequently employed to reduce friction on bearing surfaces. Nickel plus chromium or copper plus nickel plus chromium is used in decorative applications. Nickel plus brass plus lacquer or copper plus nickel plus brass plus lacquer is also used for decorative finishes, sometimes with the brass oxidized and relieved in various ways.
Electroless nickel may be applied as a barrier layer prior to other deposits, or for engineering purposes.
The preparation of aluminum and aluminum alloy mandrels for electroforming is described in Practice .
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers cleaning and conditioning treatments used before metal deposition (Section 5), and immersion deposit/strike procedures (Section 6) that enhance the adhesion of metals that are subsequently applied to aluminum products by electrodeposition or by autocatalytic chemical reduction.
1.2 The following immersion deposit/strike procedures are covered:
1.2.1 Zinc immersion with optional copper strike (6.3).
1.2.2 Zinc immersion with neutral nickel strike (6.4).
1.2.3 Zinc immersion with acetate-buffered, nickel glycolate strike (6.5).
1.2.4 Zinc immersion with acid or alkaline electroless nickel strike.
1.2.5 Tin immersion with bronze strike (6.6).
1.3 From the processing point of view, these procedures are expected to give deposits on aluminum alloys that are approximately equivalent with respect to adherence. Corrosion performance is affected by many factors, however, including the procedure used to prepare the aluminum alloy for electroplating.  
1.4 This guide is intended to aid electroplaters in preparing aluminum and its alloys for electroplating.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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. For specific precautionary statements see Section 7 and Appendix X1.

ABSTRACT
This guide covers the standard procedure of performing post-coating heat treatment of some steels for reducing susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in the finishing processes. This heat treatment procedure shall be used after plating operations but prior to any secondary conversion coating operation. Except for surface-hardened and shot-peened parts, the choice of embrittlement-relief heat treatment and the corresponding treatment conditions shall be selected on the basis of actual tensile strength of the steel.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers procedures for reducing the susceptibility in some steels to hydrogen embrittlement or degradation that may arise in the finishing processes.
1.2 The heat treatment procedures established herein may be effective for reducing susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. This heat-treatment procedure shall be used after plating operations but prior to any secondary conversion coating operation.
1.3 This guide has been coordinated with ISO/DIS 9588 and is technically equivalent.
Note 1—The heat treatment does not guarantee complete freedom from the adverse effects of hydrogen degradation.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The performance and quality of electroplated articles depend upon the surface cleanliness and condition. Various metals are electroplated for decorative or engineering finishes. The common electroplates applied are usually copper, nickel, and chromium for decorative and functional uses. Electroplated articles are used in many industries such as the marine, automotive, plumbing fixtures, and appliance industries.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes the procedure for cleaning metal surfaces to obtain good adhesion of electrodeposited metals. The degree of cleanliness required for metals to be electroplated is greater than for most other finishes. Methods of removal of heat-treat or mill scale are not included in these methods, because they are covered in practices referring to specific metals. It should also be understood that while these procedures are broadly applicable, particular substrates may require certain specific cleaning procedures.
1.2 Adequate cleaning requires a proper combination of cleaning procedures. The choice of these procedures must be based on a knowledge of the metals to be cleaned and of the soils to be removed. Because most experience and knowledge in cleaning have been obtained by suppliers of proprietary processes and formulations, these sources should be consulted before setting up a cleaning process.
1.3 A treatment to remove tarnish, light rust, fingerprints, or oxides is usually provided before immersion of the piece in the electroplating tank. This treatment activates the metal and is usually accomplished in acid baths which also serve to neutralize the residual alkaline film from alkaline cleaning. Alkaline chelated derusting and cleaning solutions, alone or with sodium cyanide, used as a soak or electrocleaner, are often preferred before electroplating on ferrous alloys.
1.4 Invariably several stages are necessary to provide adequate cleaning. These stages are discussed in three parts:
Part I—Precleaning (use of a solvent, emulsion, or alkaline spray) to remove the bulk of the soil.
Part II—Intermediate (alkaline) cleaning.
Part III—Final electrocleaning, to remove trace solids and especially adherent impurities.
Part IV—Trouble shooting.
Often, depending largely on the amount and type of soil on the workpieces as received, one or more of these stages may be eliminated or modified. Usually, even with light soils, it is advisable to retain multistage cleaning, thereby increasing the life and efficiency of the cleaning solutions.
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. (For more specific safety precautionary statements see Sections 11 and 16.)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The performance and quality of electroplated or conversion-coated zinc alloy die casting depends upon the surface cleanliness and condition. Various metals are electroplated or conversion coatings are established on zinc alloys for decorative or engineering finish. The common electroplates applied are usually copper, nickel, and chromium for decorative and functional uses. The common conversion coatings applied are phosphates, chromates, and anodized coatings. Electroplated zinc die castings and conversion coatings on zinc die castings are used in many industries such as the marine, automotive, plumbing fixtures, and appliance industries.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended as an aid in establishing and maintaining a procedure for preparing zinc alloy die castings for electroplating and conversion coatings. It is primarily intended for the preparation of Alloys UNS Z33521 (AG-40A) and UNS Z35530 (AC-41A) (Specification B86) for electroplating with copper, nickel, and chromium (Specification B456).  
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.