scope:

Purpose

This standard establishes definitions, guidelines, and requirements governing materials (e.g., alloy and heat treat condition) allowed for use in chemical process test specimens when requirements call for a generic class of alloy.

Application

This standard has been used typically for plating and chemical finishing processes, but usage is not limited to such applications. Corrosion tests, hydrogen embrittlement tests, or any other tests with specific material requirements are excluded from this document.

Background

Test samples utilized in metal finishing serve an important function in assuring the quality and functionality of the plating or coating produced. Some attributes of surface finishes can be directly tested from actual parts that will see field service, and the testing of actual plated/coated parts is always preferred. However, the testing of actual parts must always be non-destructive in nature; that is, any tests that can alter, disturb, or remove a plating or coating will result ultimately in the rejection of the test part from delivery. Since metal finishing by definition is a topical plating or coating, many of the physical attributes of the plating/coating can be easily, economically, and accurately destructively tested using samples representative of the base metal being processed. The selection of appropriate test sample material and size establishes the foundation of quality acceptance of the metal finishing process. When testing for the quality attributes of the process, tests can be grouped in three categories:

a. Tests of the Physical-Dimensional Properties of the Actual Plating/Coating: Examples of this can be general quality as observed visually, microhardness, microthickness, wear resistance, light fastness, residual stress, solderability, etc. Test sample material is often specified to be of the same generic type as the base metal, although test sample material differing from the base metal being plated should not affect the outcome of this type of test.

b. Tests of the Coating/Plating Functionality: Examples of this are adhesion, electrical resistivity, coating weight, heat resistance, etc. Test sample material can be especially important, as this category test measures the coating/plating relationships with the base metal. Corrosion resistance and intergranular surface attack are examples of this kind of test but are excluded from this specification because they require a specific substrate type.

c. Tests of Coating/Plating Detrimental Effects on the Base Metal: These test specimens are not covered by this specification because the interaction of the coating and substrate is dependent on the specific substrate type. An example of this is hydrogen embrittlement and test sample material, which is of critical importance. Established industry testing protocol for hydrogen embrittlement restricts test sample material and heat treat condition. (ASTM F519 is an example.)

Current industry standards and specifications allow separate test specimens under certain conditions and the reader should refer to the processing document specified by the procuring customer. This document is applicable when requirements have wording similar to: "separate test specimens shall be made of the same generic class of alloy as the parts, distributed within the lot, cleaned, plated, and post treated with the parts."

This document establishes policy for separate test specimen material from a generic class of alloy as the parts processed. While specimens of the same alloy and heat treat condition are acceptable to represent the parts processed, the materials listed herein have also found general acceptance across the industry.