Designation: B842 − 99 (Reapproved 2011)

Standard Specification for

Electrodeposited Coatings of Zinc Iron Alloy Deposits1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B842; 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.

1. Scope B568 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness

1.1 This specification covers the requirements for electrode- by X-Ray Spectrometry
posited zinc iron alloy coatings on metals. B571 Practice for Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic
Coatings
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as B602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this Inorganic Coatings
standard. B697 Guide for Selection of Sampling Plans for Inspection
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test of Electrodeposited Metallic and Inorganic Coatings
method portion only, Section 8, of this specification: This B762 Test Method of Variables Sampling of Metallic and
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, Inorganic Coatings
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user B849 Specification for Pre-Treatments of Iron or Steel for
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health Reducing Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita- B850 Guide for Post-Coating Treatments of Steel for Reduc-
tions prior to use. ing the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement
D3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 3. Terminology
B117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus 3.1 Definitions—Many terms used in this specification are
B183 Practice for Preparation of Low-Carbon Steel for defined in Terminology B374.
Electroplating
B242 Guide for Preparation of High-Carbon Steel for Elec- 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
troplating 3.2.1 significant surface, n—that portion of a coated arti-
B320 Practice for Preparation of Iron Castings for Electro- cle’s surface where the coating is required to meet all the
plating requirements of the coating specification for that article.
B322 Guide for Cleaning Metals Prior to Electroplating 3.2.1.1 Discussion—Significant surfaces are usually those
B374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating that are essential to the serviceability or function of the article,
B487 Test Method for Measurement of Metal and Oxide or that can be a source of corrosion products or tarnish films
Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of that interfere with the function or desirable appearance of the
Cross Section article. Significant surfaces are those surfaces that are identi-
B499 Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thicknesses fied by the purchaser by, for example, indicating them on an
by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on engineering drawing of the product or marking a sample item
Magnetic Basis Metals of the product.
B504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Metal-
lic Coatings by the Coulometric Method 4. Classification
4.1 There is one class of zinc iron alloy that is defined as
follows:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on
Metallic and Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
4.1.1 Class 1—Deposits having approximately 99 mass %
B08.06 onSoft Metals. zinc, balance iron.
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published April 2011. Originally
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as B842 – 99(2005). DOI: 4.2 There are two coating types that are defined as follows:
10.1520/B0842-99R11. 4.2.1 Type A—Zinc iron with black chromate conversion
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or coating, and
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 4.2.2 Type B—Zinc iron with iridescent yellow chromate
the ASTM website. conversion coating.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 B842 − 99 (2011)
4.3 There are three coating grades according to thickness on a rack, contact marks may be unavoidable. Location of such
that are defined as follows: marks(s) shall be indicated on the article or its drawing.
Minimum Thickness, µm New ASTM Grade Old ASTM Grade 6.3.2 Defects and variations in appearance that arise from
surface conditions of the substrate (scratches, pores, roll marks,
6 6 1
12 12 2 inclusions, and the like) and that persist in the coating despite
18 18 3 the observance of good metal finishing practices shall not be
cause for rejection. The coating shall be adherent, free from
5. Ordering Information blisters, pits, or discontinuities, and shall be free of cracks in
5.1 In order to make the application of this specification the as-plated state. Flaking shall be cause for rejection in either
complete, the purchaser needs to supply the following infor- the as-plated state or after subsequent operations.
mation to the seller in the purchase order and drawings:
NOTE 2—These coatings are commonly used in automotive applications
5.1.1 Title, ASTM designation number, and date of issue of where subsequent forming, bending, and crimping operations are com-
this specification, monly performed. These operations will necessarily detract from the
5.1.2 Deposit by classification including class (see 4.1), performance of the coatings. While some cracking of coatings will be
type (see 4.2), and grade (see 4.3), unavoidable, flaking of the coating after these subsequent operations shall
5.1.3 Composition and metallurgical condition of the sub- be cause for rejection.
strate to be coated, NOTE 3—Coatings generally perform better in service when the
substrate over which they are applied is smooth and free of torn metal,
5.1.4 Location of significant surfaces (see 3.2), inclusions, pores, and other defects. The specifications covering the
5.1.5 Heat treatment for stress relief, whether it has been unfinished product should provide limits for these defects. A metal finisher
performed by purchaser or is required (see 6.7), can often remove defects through special treatments, such as grinding,
5.1.6 Heat treatment after electroplating, if required (see polishing, abrasive blasting, chemical etches, and electropolishing.
6.8), However, these are not normal in the treatment steps preceding the
application of the coating. When they are desired, they are the subject of
5.1.7 Any requirement for submission of sample coated special agreement between the purchaser and the seller.
articles,
5.1.8 Whether or not location of rack marks is to be defined 6.4 Thickness—The thickness of the coating everywhere on
(see 6.3.1), the significant surfaces shall conform to the requirements as
5.1.9 Any requirement for special test specimens (see 8.1), specified in 4.2 and defined in 3.2.1.
5.1.10 Acceptance inspection procedure to be used (see NOTE 4—The coating requirement of this specification is a minimum.
Section 8), Variation in the thickness from point to point on an article and from article
5.1.11 Any requirement for certification (see Section 10), to article in a production lot is inherent in electroplating. Therefore, if all
and of the articles in a production lot are to meet the thickness requirement, the
average coating thickness for the production lot as a whole will be greater
5.1.12 Any other items needing agreement. For the purposes
than the specified minimum.
of this specification, prior agreement on the nature of the finish
is required as items plated in bulk may differ slightly in 6.5 Adhesion—The coating shall withstand normal handling
appearance from those that are rack plated. and storage conditions without chipping, flaking, or other
coating damage and shall conform to the minimum require-
6. Coating Requirements ments set forth in Section 8.
6.1 Substrate—The metal to be plated shall be free of flaws 6.6 Corrosion Resistance—The corrosion resistance of the
and defects that will be detrimental to the zinc alloy coating. It coating may be evaluated using the method in Appendix X1.
shall be subjected to such cleaning, pickling, and electroplating
procedures as are necessary to yield deposits with the desired 6.7 Pretreatment of Iron and Steel to Reduce the Risk of
quality. Hydrogen Embrittlement:
6.7.1 Parts that are made of steels with ultimate tensile
NOTE 1—Proper preparatory procedures and thorough cleaning are
essential to ensure satisfactory adhesion and corrosion resistance perfor-
strengths of 1000 MPa (hardness of 31 HRC or greater) that
mance of the coating. Materials used for cleaning should not damage the have been machined, ground, cold formed, or cold straightened
basis metal. It is recommended that the following practices for cleaning be subsequent to heat treatment shall require stress relief heat
used, where appropriate: Practices B183 and B320, and Guides B242 and treatment when specified by the purchaser, the tensile strength
B322. to be supplied by the purchaser. Specification B849 may be
6.1.1 The electroplating shall be applied after all basis metal consulted for a list of pretreatments that are widely used.
heat treatments have been completed.
6.8 Coating Treatments of Iron and Steel to Reduce the Risk
6.2 Nature of Coating—The coating shall consist of a zinc of Hydrogen Embrittlement:
iron alloy that is approximately 99 mass % zinc and the balance 6.8.1 Parts that are made of steels with ultimate tensile
iron. strengths of 1000 MPa (hardness of 31 HRC or greater) as well
6.3 Appearance: as surface hardened parts, may require post-coating hydrogen
6.3.1 The coating on all readily visible surfaces shall have embrittlement relief baking when specified by the purchaser,
an acceptable and characteristic appearance as agreed upon by the tensile strength to be supplied by the purchaser. Guide
the purchaser and seller. The coating shall be uniform insofar B850 may be consulted for a list of post-treatments that are
as the basis metal will permit. When the article is to be plated widely used.

2
 B842 − 99 (2011)
7. Sampling 8.1.3 Special test specimens used to represent articles in a
coating thickness test may be made of a material that is suitable
7.1 The sampling plan used for the inspection of a quantity
of the coated articles shall be as agreed upon between the for the test method even if the represented article is not of the
purchaser and the seller. same material. For example, a low-carbon steel specimen may
represent a brass article when the magnetic thickness test is
NOTE 5—Usually, when a collection of coated articles, the inspection used (see Test Method B499). The thickness specimen need not
lot (see 7.2), is examined for compliance with the requirements placed on be carried through the complete process with the represented
the articles, a relatively small number of the articles, the sample, is
selected at random and is inspected. The inspection lot is then classified as article. If not, introduce it into the process at the point where
complying or not complying with the requirements based on the results of the coating is applied and carry it through all steps that have a
the inspection of the sample. The size of the sample and the criteria for bearing on the coating thickness. In rack plating, rack the
compliance are determined by the application of statistics. This procedure specimen in the same way with the same distance from and
is known as sampling inspection. Three standards, Test Method B602,
Guide B697, and Test Method B762, contain sampling plans that are
orientation with the anodes and other items in the process as
designed for the sampling inspection of coatings. Test Method B602 the article it represents.
contains four sampling plans, three for use with tests that are nondestruc-
tive and one for destructive tests. The buyer and seller may agree on the NOTE 8—When special test specimens are used to represent coated
plan or plans to be used. If they do not, Test Method B602 identifies the articles in a thickness test, the specimens will not necessarily have the
plan to be used. Guide B697 provides a large number of plans and also same thickness and thickness distribution as the articles unless the
gives guidance in the selection of a plan. When Guide B697 is specified, specimens and the articles are of the same general size and shape.
the buyer and seller need to agree on the plan to be used. Test Method Therefore, before finished articles can be accepted on the basis of a
B762 can be used only for coating requirements that have a numerical thickness test performed on special test specimens, the relationship
limit, such as a coating thickness. The test must yield a numerical value between the thickness on the specimen and the thickness on the part needs
and certain statistical requirements must be met. Test Method B762 to be established. The criterion of acceptance is that thickness on the
contains several plans and also gives instructions for calculating plans to specimen that corresponds to the required thickness on the article.
meet special needs. The buyer and the seller may agree on the plan or
plans to be used. If they do not, Test Method B762 identifies the plan to 8.2 Composition of Coating—Verify the composition of the
be used. coating by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AA), induc-
NOTE 6—When both destructive and nondestructive tests exist for the tively coupled plasma (ICP), or directly coupled plasma (DCP)
measurement of a characteristic, the purchaser needs to state which is to or other methods if found to be capable of results within 10 %
be used so that the proper sampling plan is selected. A test may destroy the of known standards.
coating but in a noncritical area, or, although it may destroy the coating,
a tested part can be reclaimed by stripping and recoating. The purchaser 8.3 Appearance—Examine the coating at up to 10 × mag-
needs to state whether the test is to be considered destructive or
nondestructive.
nification for conformance to the requirements of appearance.

7.2 An inspection lot shall be defined as a collection of 8.4 Thickness—Measure the coating thickness at locations
coated articles that are of the same kind, that have been on the significant surface designated by the purchaser, and
produced to the same specification, that have been coated by a make the measurement with an accuracy of 10 % or better by
single supplier at one time or at approximately the same time use of one of the following test methods: Test Methods B487,
under essentially identical conditions, and that are submitted B499, B504, or B568.
for acceptance or rejection as a group. 8.5 Adhesion—Test the adhesion of the coating in accor-
7.3 If special test specimens are used to represent the coated dance with Practice B571. The choice of test method shall be
articles in a test, the number used shall be that required in 8.1.1. one of those appropriate for zinc coatings.
8.6 Corrosion Resistance—See Appendix X1.
8. Test Methods
8.1 Special Test Specimens: 9. Rejection and Rehearing
8.1.1 The permission or the requirement to use special test 9.1 Articles that fail to conform to the requirements of this
specimens, the number to be used, the material from which specification may be rejected. Rejection shall be reported to the
they are to be made, and the shape and size of the specimens, producer or supplier promptly and in writing. In case of
shall be stated by the purchaser. dissatisfaction with the results of a test, the producer or
NOTE 7—Test specimens often are used to represent the coated articles supplier may make a claim for a rehearing. Coatings that show
in a test if the articles are of a size, shape, or material that is not suitable imperfections during subsequent manufacturing operations
for the test, or if it is preferred not to submit articles to a destructive test may be rejected.
because, for example, the articles are expensive or few in number. The
specimen should duplicate the characteristics of the article that influence
the property being tested. 10. Certification
8.1.2 Special test specimens used to represent articles in an 10.1 When specified in the purchase order or contract, the
adhesion, porosity, corrosion resistance, or appearance test purchaser shall be furnished certification that samples repre-
shall be made of the same material, in the same metallurgical senting each lot have been either tested or inspected as directed
condition, and have the same surface condition as the articles in this specification and the requirements have been met. When
they represent, and be placed in the production lot of and be specified in the purchase order or contract, a report of the test
processed along with the articles they represent. results shall be furnished.

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 B842 − 99 (2011)
11. Packaging 12. Keywords
11.1 The packaging and packing requirements shall be in 12.1 alloy zinc; coatings—corrosion resistant; electrodepos-
accordance with Practice D3951 or as specified in the contract ited zinc iron; zinc alloy; zinc iron
or order.

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. CORROSION RESISTANCE

X1.1 The corrosion resistance of the coating may be evalu- continuous testing that properly applied coatings should
ated using Practice B117. Table X1.1 suggests durations of withstand, but are to be used as a guide only.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned

TABLE X1.1 Durations of Continuous Testing for Corrosion Resistance

Base Metal Zinc Corrosion
Class Type Grade Typical Appearance
Corrosion Product
1 A 1 black 700 270
1 A 2 black 740 300
1 A 3 black 800 300
1 B 1 yellow 470 180
1 B 2 yellow 540 210
1 B 3 yellow 700 210

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