ASTM B380-97(2002)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:B380 –97 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Test Method of
Corrosion Testing of Decorative Electrodeposited Coatings
by the Corrodkote Procedure
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 380; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope exposingthespecimenscoatedwiththeslurrytoahighrelative
humidity for a specified period of time.
1.1 This standard describes the Corrodkote method of
evaluating the corrosion performance of copper/nickel/
4. Significance and Use
chromium and nickel/chromium coatings electrodeposited on
4.1 Nickel/chromium and copper/nickel/chromium elec-
steel, zinc alloys, aluminum alloys, plastics and other sub-
trodeposited coatings are widely used for decorative and
strates.
protective applications.The Corrodkote test provides a method
NOTE 1—The following ASTM standards are not requirements. They
of controlling the quality of electroplated articles and is
are reference for information only: Practice B 537, Specification B 456,
suitable for manufacturing control, as well as research and
Test Method B 602, and Specification B 604.
development.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Apparatus
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 The apparatus shall consist of a humidity chamber,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
specimen supports, provision for heating the chamber, and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
provisions for air circulation in the chamber.
5.2 Drops of moisture that might accumulate on the ceiling
2. Referenced Documents
or cover of the chamber of specimen supports shall not be
2.1 ASTM Standards:
permitted to fall on the specimens being tested.
B 117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
NOTE 2—Suitable apparatus may be constructed from salt-spray equip-
B 456 Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Cop-
ment by eliminating fog-spray nozzles, substituting water for the salt
per Plus Nickel Plus Chromium and Nickel Plus Chro-
solution in the reservoir, adding a manifold for bubbling air through the
mium
water in the reservoir, and adding a fan for circulating the air in the
B 537 Practice for Rating of Electroplated Panels Subjected
chamber with the fan discharge directed across the surface of the water in
to Atmospheric Exposure the reservoir.
B 602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and
5.3 Materials of construction shall not affect the corrosive-
Inorganic Coatings
ness of the test.
B 604 Specification for Decorative Electroplated Coatings
of Copper/Nickel/Chromium on Plastics 6. Procedure
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
6.1 Corrodkote Slurry—Prepare the Corrodkote slurry in a
glass beaker by dissolving 0.035 g of reagent grade cupric
3. Summary of Method
nitrate (Cu(NO ) ·3H O), 0.165 g of ACS reagent grade ferric
3 2 2
3.1 The test is conducted by applying a slurry containing
chloride (FeCl ·6H O), and 1.0 g of ACS reagent grade
3 2
corrosivesaltstotestspecimens,allowingtheslurrytodry,and
ammonium chloride (NH Cl) in 50 mLof water conforming to
Specification D 1193, Type IV. Stir 30 g of water-washed,
ThismethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB08onMetallicand ceramic-grade kaolin into the solution. Mix the slurry thor-
Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10on
oughly and allow it to stand for about 2 min so that the kaolin
General Test Methods.
will become saturated. Mix the slurry thoroughly just before
The original work in developing the Corrodkote procedure was initiated by the
using.
American Electroplaters’ Society Research Committee, Project No. 15.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1997. Published March 1998. Originally
6.1.1 An alternative method of preparing the Corrodkote
e1
published as B 380 – 61 T. Last previous edition B 380 – 85 (1997) .
slurry is as follows. Weigh out 2.5 g of cupric nitrate
Bigge, D. M., “Experience with the Use of the Corrodkote Test,” Proceedings,
(Cu(NO ) ·3H O), and dissolve and dilute with distilled water
3 2 2
Am. Electroplaters’ Soc., Vol. 46, 1959, p. 149.
in a volumetric flask to exactly 500 mL. Weigh out 2.50 g of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05.
ferric chloride (FeCl ·6H O), and dissolve and dilute with
3 2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
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B380
distilled water in a second volumetric flask to exactly 500 mL. place or remove test specimens. Operations shall be so sched-
(The ferric chloride solution shall be kept in a dark place and uled that these interruptions are held to a minimum. When
stoppered with a rubber or glass stopper when not in use.) (The more than one test cycle of 20 h or less is specified, the test
ferric chloride solution shall not be more than 2 weeks old, specimen shall be treated as outlined in 6.9 after each test
since older solutions become unstable.) Weigh out 50.0 g of cycle. Fresh slurry shall be applied for each succeeding cycle.
ammonium chloride (NH Cl) and dissolve and dilute with After the last test cycle, the test specimen shall be treated as
distilled water in a volumetric flask to exactly 500 mL. Then outlined in 6.9.
measure out exactly 7.0 mL of the cupric nitrate solution, 33.0
6.8 Period of Test—The period of each test cycle as well as
mL of ferric chloride solution, and 10.0 mL of the ammonium
the number of test cycles required, shall be as specified in the
chloride solution; place these in a beaker to which 30.0 g of
specifications for the material or product being tested, or as
kaolin is now added. Stir with a glass stirring rod.
mutually agreed upon between the manufacturer and the
6.2 TestSpecimens—Thetypeandnumberoftestspecimens
purchaser.
to be used, as well as the criteria for evaluat
...