ASTM B200-85(1999)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: B 200 – 85 (Reapproved 1999)
Standard Specification for
Electrodeposited Coatings of Lead and Lead-Tin Alloys on
Steel and Ferrous Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 200; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope B 499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thick-
nesses by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for electrode-
Magnetic Basis Metals
posited coatings of lead and lead-tin alloys on steel and ferrous
B 504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Me-
alloys. The coatings of lead-tin alloys are those that range in tin
tallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
content up to but not exceeding 15 mass %. The coatings
B 507 Practice for Design of Articles to Be Electroplated on
ranging between 3 and 15 mass % in tin content are known also
Racks
as “terne” metallic electrodeposits.
B 567 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
1.2 This specification does not apply to sheet, strip, or wire
by the Beta Backscatter Method
in the unfabricated form.
B 568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
by X-Ray Spectrometry
test method portion, Section 11, of this specification: This
B 571 Test Methods for Adhesion of Metallic Coatings
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
B 602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
Inorganic Coatings
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
B 697 Guide for Selection of Sampling Plans for Inspection
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
of Electrodeposited Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
tions prior to use.
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of the terms used in this speci-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 fication are in accordance with Terminology B 374.
B 117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
B 183 Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for
4. Classification
Electroplating
4.1 The coating designation shall comprise the following:
B 242 Practice for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for
3 4.1.1 The chemical symbol for the basis metal.
Electroplating
4.1.2 The chemical symbol for the undercoating of copper
B 320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electro-
3 or nickel, if used.
plating
3 4.1.3 The chemical symbol Pb representing lead or the
B 322 Practice for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
4 symbol Pb Sn for the lead-tin alloy. When tin is present, the tin
B 339 Specification for Pig Tin
3 content of the coating will appear before the symbol Sn. For
B 374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating
example, Pb 5 Sn refers to a coating having the minimum
B 487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide
composition 5 mass % tin, remainder lead.
Coating Thicknesses by Microscopical Examination of a
4.1.4 A number indicating the minimum thickness of the
Cross Section
coating in micrometres (μm). This minimum thickness shall be
6, 12, 25, or 40 μm, and shall apply to all significant surfaces
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-8 on specified in 8.2.2 and 8.3.1.
Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
4.2 Examples:
B08.04 on Soft Metals.
4.2.1 Fe-Pb-5-Sn-40 represents a lead-tin alloy coating
Current edition approved March 29, 1985. Published May 1985. Originally
having 5 mass % tin content, remainder lead, on a ferrous basis
published as B 200 – 70. Last previous edition B 200 – 76.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.02.
metal. The thickness is 40 μm minimum.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.04.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B 200 – 85 (1999)
4.2.2 Fe-Cu-Pb-6 represents a lead coating on a ferrous as nearly as possible to those affecting the significant surfaces
basis metal with a copper strike. The thickness is 6 μm of the articles represented. Unless a need can be demonstrated,
minimum. separately prepared specimens shall not be used in place of
production items for nondestructive and visual examinations.
5. Sampling
6.2 Thickness and Adhesion Specimens— If separate speci-
5.1 Lot—An inspection lot is defined as a collection of
mens for thickness and adhesion tests are required, they shall
finished articles that are of the same kind, that have been
be strips approximately 25 mm wide, 100 mm long, and 1 mm
produced to the same specification, that have been coated by a thick.
single supplier at one time or at approximately the same time
6.3 Corrosion Resistance Specimens— If separate speci-
under essentially identical conditions, and that are submitted
mens for corrosion resistance tests are required, they shall be
for acceptance or rejection as a group.
panels not less than 150 mm long, 100 mm wide, and
5.2 Selection—A random sample of the size required by
approximately 1 mm thick.
Test Method B 602 shall be selected from the inspection lot
6.4 Hydrogen Embrittlement Specimens— If specimens are
(see 5.1). The articles in the lot shall be inspected for
required, the configuration shall be that specified by the
conformance to the requirements of this specification and the
purchaser.
lot shall be classified as conforming or nonconforming to each
requirement according to the criteria of the sampling plans in
7. Significance and Use
Test Method B 602.
7.1 Electrodeposits of lead and lead-tin alloys on steel and
NOTE 1—Test Method B 602 contains three sampling plans that are to
ferrous alloys are produced where it is desired to obtain
be used with nondestructive test methods and a fourth to be used with
atmospheric corrosion resistance. Deposits of lead and lead-tin
destructive test methods. The three methods for nondestructive tests differ
alloys on steel have shown to have excellent corrosion protec-
in the quality level they require of the product. Test Method B 602
tive qualities in atmospheric exposure, especially when under-
requires use of the plan with the intermediate quality level unless the
coated by a thin deposit of copper (or nickel). Applications of
purchaser specifies otherwise. The purchaser should compare the plans
lead and lead-tin alloy deposits include the following: protec-
with his needs and state which plan is to be used. If the plans in Test
Method B 602 do not serve the needs, additional ones are given in Guide
tion from dilute sulfuric acid; lining of brine refrigeration
B 697.
tanks; chemical apparatus; and parts for storage batteries; and
NOTE 2—When both destructive and nondestructive tests exist for the
for coating bearing surfaces. In this last application, lead is
measurement of a characteristic, the purchaser needs to state which is to
electroplated alone, or as an alloy and coated with another
be used so that the proper sampling plan is selected. Also, a test may
metal, such as indium. The indium may be diffused into the
destroy the coating in a noncritical area; or, although it destroys the
lead or lead alloy by heat treatment. See Appendix X1.
coating, the tested article might be reclaimed by stripping and recoating.
The purchaser needs to state whether the test is to be considered
destructive or nondestructive.
8. Ordering Information
5.3 Separate Specimens—If separate specimens are to be
8.1 When ordering articles to be electroplated in accordance
used to represent the finished articles in a test, the specimens
with this specification, the purchaser shall state the coating
shall be of the nature, size, number, and be processed as
designation (see Section 4), the minimum thickness on signifi-
required in 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4.
cant surfaces, in addition to the ASTM designation number and
year of issue.
6. Specimen Preparation
8.2 If necessary, the purchaser shall include on his part,
6.1 Electroplated Parts or Separate Specimens—When the
drawings, or purchase order the following:
electroplated parts are of such form, shape, size, and value as
8.2.1 Electroplating application to high-strength steel, if
to prohibit use thereof, or are not readily adaptable to a test
specified (see 9.2.2).
specified herein, or when destructive tests of small lot sizes are
8.2.2 Location of significant surfaces, to be shown on part
required, the test shall be made by the use of separate
drawing, or by the provision of a suitably marked sample.
specimens plated concurrently with the articles represented.
8.2.3 Hydrogen embrittlement test, if required (see 6.4).
The separate specimens shall be of a basis metal equivalent to
8.2.4 Sample size for inspection, if other than specified (see
that of the articles represented. “Equivalent” basis metal
Section 5).
incudes chemical composition, grade, condition, and finish of
8.2.5 Supplementary requirements, if applicable (see
surface prior to electroplating. For example, a cold-rolled steel
Supplementary Requirements).
surface should not be used to represent a hot-rolled steel
8.2.6 Separate test specimens, if permitted (see 6.1).
surface. Due to the impracticality of forging or casting separate
8.2.7 Certification, if required (see Section 13).
test specimens, hot-rolled steel specimens may be used to
8.3 The manufacturer of the basis metal parts should pro-
represent forged and cast-steel articles. The separate specimens
vide the supplier of the coating facility, with the following
may also be cut from scrap castings when ferrous alloy castings
data:
are being electroplated. These separate specimens shall be
8.3.1 Hardness or tensile strength of steel parts (see 9.2.2
introduced into a lot at regular intervals before the cleaning
and 9.2.3).
operations, preliminary to electroplating of specimens, includ-
ing the spacing, plating media, bath agitation, and temperature, 8.3.2 Heat treatment for stress relief, whether or not it has
in respect to other objects being electroplated, shall correspond been performed or is required.
B 200 – 85 (1999)
racking, or both. The thickness requirements of this specification are
9. Coating Requirements
minimum, (see Table 2). Variation in the finish thickness from point to
9.1 Composition—The coating compositions shall be as
point on a coated article is inherent in electroplating. Therefore, the finish
specified in Table 1.
thickness will have to exceed the specified value at some points on the
9.2 Process—Lead and lead-tin alloy coatings shall be
significant surfaces to ensure that it equals or exceeds the specified value
produced by electrodeposition in aqueous solution of salts. For at all points. In most cases, the average finish thickness on an article will
be greater than the specified value; how much greater is largely deter-
the preparation of ferrous metal surfaces necessary to assure
mined by the shape of the article (see Practice B 507) and the character-
good deposit, adhesion, and quality, see Practices B 183,
istics of the plating process. In addition, the average finish thickness on
B 242, B 320, and B 322.
articles will vary from article to article within a production lot, Therefore,
9.2.1 A copper or nickel strike, 2.5 μm thick, may be
if all of the articles in a production lot are to meet the thickness
employed and is desirable (see X1.1.2).
requirement, the average finish thickness for the production lot as a whole
9.2.2 Steel parts with ultimate tensile strengths greater than
will be greater than the average necessary to assure that a single article
meets the requirement.
1050 Mpa (approximately 32 HRC) and that have been
machined, ground, cold-formed, or cold-straightened shall be
9.5 Corrosion Resistance—Lead and lead-tin coatings shall
stress relieved before processing by heat treating for5hat190
show neither corrosion products of lead (or lead-tin) nor basis
6 15°C. Steel parts having an ultimate tensile strength greater
metal corrosion products at the end of the test period, (see
than 2350 MPa (approximately 50 HRC) shall not be coated
Table 2), when tested by continuous exposure to salt spray in
with lead or lead-tin alloys by electrodeposition.
accordance with 11.4. The appearance of corrosion products
9.2.3 Steel parts with ultimate tensile strengths greater than
visible to the unaided eye at normal reading distance shall be
1125 MPa (approximately 35 HRC) and greater, shall be heat
cause for rejection except that corrosion products at the edges
treated within 4 h after plating to remove hydrogen embrittle-
of specimens shall not constitute failure.
ment. The heat treatment shall be at least for3hat190 6
NOTE 5—Corrosion is defined as the presence of more than 66 rust
15°C.
spots per square metre, or more than 2 rust spots in an area less than 3
9.2.4 Defects and variations in appearance in the finish that
square decimetres, or rust spots larger than 1.6 mm in diameter.
arise from surface conditions of the substrate (for example,
scratches, pores, roll marks, inclusions, etc.) and that persist in
10. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
the finish despite the observance of good metal-finishing
10.1 The surface of the electroplated article shall be uniform
practices shall not be cause for rejection.
in appearance and free of visible coating defects, such as
blisters, pits, roughness, nodules, burning, cracks, or unplated
NOTE 3—Applied finishes generally perform better in service when the
substrate over which they are applied is smooth and free of torn metal,
areas, and other defects that will affect the function of the
inclusions, pores, and other defects. It is recommended that the specifi-
coating. However, superficial staining that results from rinsing
cations covering the unfinished products provide limits for these defects.
or slight discoloration from any drying or baking operation to
A metal finisher can often remove defects through special treatments such
relieve hydrogen embrittlement, shall not be cause for rejec-
as grinding, polishing, abrasive blasting, chemical etching, and electropol-
tion. On articles where a visible contact mark is unavoidable,
ishing. However, these are not normal in the treatment steps preceding the
its position shall be that chosen by the purchaser. The electro-
application of the finish. When they are desired they shall be the subject
plated articles sha
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