ASTM B200-22

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B200 − 85 (Reapproved 2015) B200 − 22
Standard Specification for
Electrodeposited Coatings of Lead and Lead-Tin Alloys on
Steel and Ferrous Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B200; 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 (´) 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. Scope Scope*
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for electrodeposited coatings of lead and lead-tin alloys on steel and ferrous alloys.
The coatings of lead-tin alloys are those that range in tin content up to, but not exceeding, 15 mass %. The coatings ranging
between 3 and 15 mass % in tin content are known also as “terne” metallic electrodeposits.
1.2 This specification does not apply to sheet, strip, or wire in the unfabricated form.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 11, of this specification: 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
B183 Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Electroplating
B320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electroplating
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating
B339 Specification for Pig Tin
B374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of Cross Section
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.06 on Soft
Metals.
Current edition approved March 1, 2015Nov. 15, 2022. Published April 2015December 2022. Originally approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 20092015
as B200 – 85 (2009).(2015). DOI: 10.1520/B0200-85R15.10.1520/B0200-22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B200 − 22
B499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on Magnetic Basis
Metals
B504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Metallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
B507 Practice for Design of Articles to Be Electroplated on Racks
B567 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness by the Beta Backscatter Method
B568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness by X-Ray Spectrometry
B571 Practice for Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic Coatings
B602 Guide for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
B697 Guide for Selection of Sampling Plans for Inspection of Electrodeposited Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
B849 Specification for Pre-Treatments of Iron or Steel for Reducing Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
B850 Guide for Post-Coating Treatments of Steel for Reducing the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of the terms used in this specification are in accordance with Terminology B374.
4. Classification
4.1 The coating designation shall comprise the following:
4.1.1 The chemical symbol for the basis metal.
4.1.2 The chemical symbol for the undercoating of copper or nickel, if used.
4.1.3 The chemical symbol Pb representing lead or the symbol Pb Sn for the lead-tin alloy. When tin is present, the tin content
of the coating will appear before the symbol Sn. For example, Pb 5 Sn refers to a coating having the minimum composition 5
mass % tin, remainder lead.
4.1.4 A number indicating the minimum thickness of the coating in micrometres (μm). This minimum thickness shall be 6, 12,
25, or 40 μm, and shall apply to all significant surfaces specified in 8.2.2 and 8.3.1.
4.2 Examples:
4.2.1 Fe-Pb-5-Sn-40 represents a lead-tin alloy coating having 5 mass % tin content, remainder lead, on a ferrous basis metal. The
thickness is 40 μm 40 μm minimum.
4.2.2 Fe-Cu-Pb-6 represents a lead coating on a ferrous basis metal with a copper strike. The thickness is 6 μm 6 μm minimum.
5. Sampling
5.1 Lot—An inspection lot is defined as a collection of finished articles that are of the same kind, that have been produced to the
same specification, that have been coated by a single supplier at one time or at approximately the same time under essentially
identical conditions, and that are submitted for acceptance or rejection as a group.
5.2 Selection—A random sample of the size required by Test Method B602 shall be selected from the inspection lot (see 5.1). The
articles in the lot shall be inspected for conformance to the requirements of this specification and the lot shall be classified as
conforming or nonconforming to each requirement according to the criteria of the sampling plans in Test Method B602.
NOTE 1—Test Method B602 contains three sampling plans that are to be used with nondestructive test methods and a fourth to be used with destructive
test methods. The three methods for nondestructive tests differ in the quality level they require of the product. Test Method B602 requires use of the plan
with the intermediate quality level unless the purchaser specifies otherwise. The purchaser should compare the plans with histheir needs and state which
plan is to be used. If the plans in Test Method B602 do not serve the needs, additional ones are given in Guide B697.
NOTE 2—When both destructive and nondestructive tests exist for the measurement of a characteristic, the purchaser needs to state which is to be used
so that the proper sampling plan is selected. Also, a test may destroy the coating in a noncritical area; or, although it destroys the 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.
5.3 Separate Specimens—If separate specimens are to be used to represent the finished articles in a test, the specimens shall be
of the nature, size, number, and be processed as required in 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4.
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6. Specimen Preparation
6.1 Electroplated Parts or Separate Specimens—When the electroplated parts are of such form, shape, size, and value as to
prohibit use thereof, or are not readily adaptable to a test specified herein, or when destructive tests of small lot sizes are required,
the test shall be made by the use of separate specimens plated concurrently with the articles represented. The separate specimens
shall be of a basis metal equivalent to that of the articles represented. “Equivalent” basis metal incudes chemical composition,
grade, condition, and finish of surface prior to electroplating. For example, a cold-rolled steel surface should not be used to
represent a hot-rolled steel surface. Due to the impracticality of forging or casting separate test specimens, hot-rolled steel
specimens may be used to represent forged and cast-steel articles. The separate specimens may also be cut from scrap castings
when ferrous alloy castings are being electroplated. These separate specimens shall be introduced into a lot at regular intervals
before the cleaning operations, preliminary to electroplating of specimens, including the spacing, plating media, bath agitation, and
temperature, in respect to other objects being electroplated, shall correspond as nearly as possible to those affecting the significant
surfaces of the articles represented. Unless a need can be demonstrated, separately prepared specimens shall not be used in place
of production items for nondestructive and visual examinations.
6.2 Thickness and Adhesion Specimens—If separate specimens for thickness and adhesion tests are required, they shall be strips
approximately 25 mm 25 mm wide, 100 mm mm long, and 1 mm 1 mm thick.
6.3 Corrosion Resistance Specimens—If separate specimens for corrosion resistance tests are required, they shall be panels not less
than 150 mm long, 100 mm 150 mm long, 100 mm wide, and approximately 1 mm 1 mm thick.
6.4 Hydrogen Embrittlement Specimens—If specimens are required, the configuration shall be that specified by the purchaser.
7. Significance and Use
7.1 Electrodeposits of lead and lead-tin alloys on steel and ferrous alloys are produced where it is desired to obtain atmospheric
corrosion resistance. Deposits of lead and lead-tin alloys on steel have shown to have excellent corrosion protective qualities in
atmospheric exposure, especially when under-coated by a thin deposit of copper (or nickel). Applications of lead and lead-tin alloy
deposits include the following: protection from dilute sulfuric acid; lining of brine refrigeration tanks; chemical apparatus; and
parts for storage batteries; and for coating bearing surfaces. In this last application, lead is electroplated alone, or as an alloy and
coated with another metal, such as indium. The indium may be diffused into the lead or lead alloy by heat treatment. See Appendix
X1.
8. Ordering Information
8.1 When ordering articles to be electroplated in accordance with this specification, the purchaser shall state the coating
designation (see Section 4), the minimum thickness on significant surfaces, in addition to the ASTM designation number and year
of issue.
8.2 If necessary, the purchaser shall include, on histheir part, drawings, or purchase order the following:
8.2.1 Electroplating application to high-strength steel, if specified (see 9.2.2).
8.2.2 Location of significant surfaces, to be shown on part drawing, or by the provision of a suitably marked sample.
8.2.3 Hydrogen embrittlement test, if required (see 6.4).
8.2.4 Sample size for inspection, if other than specified (see Section 5).
8.2.5 Supplementary requirements, if applicable (see Supplementary Requirements).
8.2.6 Separate test specimens, if permitted (see 6.1).
8.2.7 Certification, if required (see Section 13).
8.3 The manufacturer of the basis metal parts should provide the supplier of the coating facility, with the following data:
B200 − 22
8.3.1 Hardness or tensile strength of steel parts (see 9.2.2 and 9.2.39.2.4).
8.3.2 Heat treatment for stress relief, whether or not it has been performed or is required.
9. Coating Requirements
9.1 Composition—The coating compositions shall be as specified in Table 1.
9.2 Process—ProcessLead—Lead and lead-tin alloy coatings shall be produced by electrodeposition in aqueous solution of salts.
For the preparation of ferrous metal surfaces necessary to assure good deposit, adhesion, and quality, see Practices B183, B242,
B320, and B322.
9.2.1 A copper or nickel strike, 2.5 μm μm thick, may be employed and is desirable (see X1.1.2).
9.2.2 Pretreatment of Iron or Steel for the Purpose of Reducing the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement—Steel parts having an
ultimate tensile strength greater than 1000 MPa (31 HRC) that contain tensile stresses caused by cold forming or cold straightening
which have not been heat treated after the cold forming process, shall be heat treated for stress relief to reduce the risk of hydrogen
embrittlement in the part before clean and electroplate processes. If these heat treatments are not required, the purchaser shall
specify in the ordering information their exception. If the purchaser does not specify an exception to heat treatment, then the plater
shall use Table 1 in Specification B849 to determine the appropriate heat treatment for the steel based on its tensile strength.
9.2.3 Steel parts with ultimate tensile strengths greater than 1050 Mpa (approximately 32 HRC) and that have been machined,
ground, cold-formed, or cold-straightened shall be stress relieved before processing by heat treating for 5 h at 190 6 15°C. Steel
parts having an ultimate tensile strength greater than 2350 MPa (approximately 50 HRC) 2350 MPa (approximately 50 HRC) shall
not be coated with lead or lead-tin alloys by electrodeposition.
9.2.4 Post Coating Treatments of Iron and Steel for the Purpose of Reducing the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement (Baking)—Steel
parts with ultimate tensile strengths greater than 1125 MPa (approximately 35 HRC) and greater, shall be heat treated within 4 h
after plating to remove hydrogen embrittlement. The heat treatment shall be at least for 3 h at 190 6 15°C.Electroplated steel parts
having a tensile strength greater than 1200 MPa (39 HRC), as well as surface hardened parts, shall be baked to reduce the risk of
hydrogen embrittlement. Baking of electroplated steel parts with tensile strength 1200 MPa (39 HRC), or less, is not mandatory.
9.2.4.1 Steel parts having a tensile strength greater than 1200 MPa (39 HRC), as well as surface hardened parts, shall be baked
to reduce the risk of hydrogen embrittlement. For such parts, purchasers shall specify the baking requirements in the ordering
information. Purchasers are directed to the appropriate ER Class in Guide B850 Table 1.
9.2.4.2 A purchaser wishing to specify baking requirements, irrespective of tensile strength, shall specify such requirements in the
ordering information. Purchasers are directed to Guide B850 Table 1.
9.2.4.3 Any baking treatment done under this section (9.2.4) shall begin within 4 h of removal from the electroplating process.
9.2.4.4 Electroplated springs and other parts subject to flexure shall not be flexed before the hydrogen embrittlement relief
treatment.
9.2.5 Defects and variations in appearance in the finish that arise from surface conditions of the substrate (for example, scratches,
pores, roll marks, inclusions, etc.) and that persist in the finish despite the observance of good metal-finishing practices shall not
be cause for rejection.
TABLE 1 Lead-Tin Alloy Coating Composition
Element Mass %
Tin (Sn) Up to 15 max
Lead (Pb) Remainder
Other metals and nonmetallics 1.0 max
Lead Coating Composition
Lead 99.0
Other metals and nonmetallics 1.0 max
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NOTE 3—Applied finishes ge
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