Designation: B 201 – 80 (Reapproved 2000) Endorsed by American

Electroplaters’ Society
Endorsed by National
Association of Metal Finishers

Standard Practice for

Testing Chromate Coatings on Zinc and Cadmium Surfaces1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 201; 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 3.1.2 significant surfaces—in general, significant surfaces

1.1 This practice covers a procedure for evaluating the are those surfaces that are visible and subject to corrosion or
protective value of chemical and electrochemical conversion wear, or both, except that surfaces that are normally difficult to
coatings produced by chromate treatments of zinc and cad- coat by electroplating or mechanical deposition may be ex-
mium surfaces. empt. The designation of significant surfaces may be indicated
1.2 The protective value of a chromate coating is usually on the drawing.
determined by salt-spray test and by determining whether or 4. Significance and Use
not the coating possesses adequate abrasion resistance.
1.3 Other methods, such as exposure to a humidity environ- 4.1 This practice is applicable to chromate coatings of the
ment, can be used, but are generally of too long a duration to colorless (both one and two-dip), iridescent yellow or bronze,
be of practical value. “Steam Tests” using pressure cookers olive drab, black, colorless anodic, yellow or black anodic
have also been used for testing chromate films on hot-dip types, and of the dyed variety, when applied to surfaces of
galvanized surfaces. electrodeposited zinc, mechanically deposited zinc, hot-dipped
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the zinc, rolled zinc, electrodeposited cadmium, mechanically
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the deposited cadmium, and zinc die castings.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- NOTE 1—Colorless coatings are also referred to as clear-bright or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- blue-bright coatings.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.2 Because of variables inherent in the salt-spray test,
2. Referenced Documents which may differ from one test cabinet to another, interpreta-
tion of test results for compliance with expected performance
2.1 ASTM Standards: should be specified by the purchaser.
B 117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus2 4.3 Properties such as thickness, color, luster, and ability to
3. Terminology provide good paint adhesion are not covered in this practice,
nor are the chemical composition and the method of applica-
3.1 Descriptions of Terms: tion of these finishes.
3.1.1 time to failure—time to failure will depend on the type
of coating tested. A list of some expected protective values 5. Conditioning
obtainable in a given salt spray test is shown in Appendix X2. 5.1 Aging—Before subjecting a chromate coating to test, it
3.1.1.1 Discussion—In most instances, failure is defined as must be aged at room temperature in a clean environment for
the first appearance on significant surfaces of white corrosion at least 24 h after the chromating treatment.
products visible to the unaided eye at normal reading distance, 5.2 Preparation of Specimen—The test surface must be free
except that the presence of white corrosion products at sharp of fingerprints and other extraneous stains and must not be
edges (for example, on threaded fasteners) and at junctions cleaned except by gentle wiping with a clean, dry, soft cloth to
between dissimilar metals should not be considered failure. In remove loose particles. Oily or greasy surfaces should not be
some instances, it may be desirable to regard the first appear- used for testing, and degreasing with organic solvents is not
ance of red rust as failure. recommended.

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6. Procedure
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-8 on Metallic and
Inorganic Coatingsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.07 on 6.1 Salt Spray Test—Expose the clean specimen to a 5 %
Chemical Conversion Coatings. solution salt spray and conduct the test in accordance with the
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 1980. Published January 1981. Originally latest revision of Practice B 117. Unless otherwise specified,
published as B 201 – 45 T. Last previous edition B 201 – 68.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards , Vol 03.02.
only those surfaces that are positioned in the test chamber in

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

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 B 201
accordance with Practice B 117 are considered pertinent for testing solution by blotting gently, taking care not to disturb
evaluating failure. any deposit that may have formed. A dark deposit or black stain
6.2 Abrasion Resistance Test—To determine whether the is indicative of the absence of a coating.
coating is adherent, nonpowdery, and abrasion resistant, rub 6.3.2 Prepare the test solution by dissolving 50 g of lead
the chromated surface with a gritless, soft gum eraser (art-gum) acetate trihydrate (Pb(C2 H3 O2) 2·3H2 O) in 1 L of distilled or
for 2 to 3 s by hand (about 10 strokes) using normal pressure deionized water. The pH of the solution should be between 5.5
(about 70 kPa (10 psi)) and a stroke approximately 50 mm
and 6.8. Any white precipitate formed during the initial
long. The chromate coating should not be removed or worn
preparation of the solution may be dissolved by small additions
through to the underlying metal as a result of this treatment.
6.3 Test for Colorless (Clear) Coatings—This test applies of acetic acid; provided that the pH is not reduced to a value
only to coatings that are free of secondary supplementary below 5.5. Upon formation of a white precipitate thereafter, the
coatings, such as oil, water or solvent-based polymers, or wax. solution should be discarded.
6.3.1 Determine the presence of a colorless (clear) coating 6.3.3 For comparative purposes, treat an untreated surface
by placing a drop of lead acetate testing solution on the surface. similarly. On an untreated surface, a black spot forms almost
Allow the drop to remain on the surface for 5 s. Remove the immediately.

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. NATURE OF COATINGS

X1.1 The primary purpose of chromate finishes is to retard thereby reducing its protective value under salt spray and
the formation of white corrosion products upon exposure to humid conditions. Colorless or light iridescent coatings appear
stagnant water, moist atmosphere, or stagnant environments to be less sensitive to elevated temperatures than are heavy
containing organic vapors, such as may emanate from certain chromate coatings.
plastics, paints, and other organic materials. Chromate finishes
will not prevent the growth of metallic filaments, commonly X1.3 The quality of the chromate film depends to a large
known as “whiskers.” extent on the chemical purity and the physical condition of the
basis surface to which it is applied. In order to produce an
X1.2 Coatings covered by this practice generally contain acceptable coating, it is essential that the surface be properly
oxides of the basis metal and tri- and hexavalent chromium in cleaned and free of heavy metallic impurities such as lead,
varying proportions, except that colorless coatings contain copper, and contamination (specific for zinc), such as bright-
little or no hexavalent chromium. They may be produced by ener occlusions, and oxides, which interfere with the chromat-
either chemical or electrochemical processes from solutions ing reaction.
containing hexavalent chromium compounds with one or more
of certain anions which act as activators, film formers or both. X1.4 The thickness of the coating to be chromated should
There is evidence that over an extended period, chromate be not less than 5.0 µm and the thickness requirement on the
coatings undergo some chemical changes even under ordinary coating and chromated finish should apply after the chromate
conditions. These changes increase with increase in tempera- treatment. The color and luster produced by a given treatment
ture. At temperatures above approximately 65°C, these will depend to some extent on the surface condition of the
changes take place fairly rapidly, converting the soluble metal to which it is applied and may vary from part to part, or
hexavalent chromium ion into an insoluble compound and even on one single part.

X2. PROTECTION BY CHROMATE COATINGS

X2.1 Table X2.1 illustrates the minimum degree of protec- of zinc and cadmium coatings can be chromated, and there may
tion that can be expected from the various types of chromate or may not be differences in the protection afforded by the
coatings on electrodeposited zinc when subjected to a 5 % salt chromate depending on the type of coating and the method of
spray test. processing, so the actual protection required should be estab-
lished to the satisfaction of the manufacturer and the purchaser.
X2.2 These values are shown for guidance purposes only
and are not to be construed as endpoint requirements. All types

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 B 201
TABLE X2.1 Expected Protection
Expected Minimum
Type of Coating Hours to White
Corrosion of Zinc
One-dip colorless (clear bright) 12
Two-dip colorless (clear bright) 24
Black dip 48
Anodic-colorless 48
Anodic-black 96
Iridescent yellow or bronze 96
Anodic-yellow 150
Olive-drab 150

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