ASTM_B_183_-_79_2014.pdf

Designation:B18379(Reapproved 2014)Standard Practice forPreparation of Low-Carbon Steel for Electroplating1This standard is issued under the fixed designation B183;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 This practice is intended as an aid to electroplaters insetting up a suitable cleaning cycle preparatory to electroplat-ing of low-carbon steel(Note 1)containing less than 0.35mass%of carbon and to indicate some of the precautions thatmust be taken to maintain this cycle in good operatingcondition.NOTE1The preparation of high-carbon steel for electroplating iscovered in Guide B242.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec-troplatingB322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating3.Nature of Cleaning3.1 The preparation of low-carbon steel for electroplatinginvolves three basic steps in the following order:3.1.1 Removal of oil,grease,and caked-on dirt,3.1.2 Removal of scale and oxide films by“pickling,”and3.1.3 Removal of any smut left on the surface after step3.1.2 and activation of the steel.3.2 Removal from the steel of fabricating lubricants andfinishing compounds may have to be undertaken by“preclean-ing”before the articles reach the electroplating room.Theremainder of the operations should immediately precede theelectroplating.In some instances separate removal of smut maynot be necessary as in the case of parts which are barrel-electroplated and tumbled.4.Cleaning Solutions and Apparatus4.1 All solutions should be subject to chemical control,including determinations of the free acid and iron contents ofthe pickling solutions and acid dips,and such tests of thecleaning solutions as recommended by the manufacturer.4.2 Based on tests and experience,all solutions should bediscarded before they have lost their effectiveness.4.3 To conserve cleaning and pickling solutions and toensure continuous operation when heavy production isinvolved,doubling of facilities in the same line of operationmay be desirable.This arrangement will result in a high degreeof contamination of the first of two solutions of the same kindwhile the second ones will be sufficiently clean to continue touse.It will also reduce the degree of contamination ofsubsequent solutions,for example,by oil and grease.4.4 As an alternative to the procedure described in 4.3,thecleaner and pickle tanks may be provided with a large damoverflow and a pump having its intake placed about half-waydown the overflow dam between the accumulated grease andoil on top and the settled-out solid dirt at the bottom,andhaving its outlet placed near the bottom of the tank at the endopposite to the dam overflow.4.5 Separate tank electrodes,removable from the tank forinspection and cleaning,should be used.Contact hooks for theelectrodes should be of the inverted V-type for round tank barsand should be of sufficient size to carry the required current.4.6 Rinse tanks should be arranged with a dam overflow,and any water inlet other than a spray should be placed so asto ensure thorough circulation of the water and a large workingsurface free from grease accumulation.An adequate flow ofwater is essential.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallicand Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 onPre Treatment.Current edition approved Nov.1,2014.Published November 2014.Originallyapproved in 1943.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as B183 79(2009).DOI:10.1520/B0183-79R14.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.7 Heating coils should be placed on the work-piece side ofthe tank in order to assure a working surface free from greaseaccumulation.5.Procedure for Racked Parts5.1 The cycle described in 5.2 to 5.6 should be used for thepreparation of racked parts subsequently electroplated in stilltanks,agitated tanks,semi-and full-automatic equipment,except in those cases described in Section 6.5.2 PrecleaningIn general