Standard Specification for Decorative Electroplated Coatings of Copper Plus Nickel Plus Chromium on Plastics

Abstract

This specification establishes the requirements for several grades and types of electrodeposited copper plus nickel plus chromium coatings on plateable plastic substrates where appearance, durability and resistance to thermal cycling are important to service performance. The coatings covered here are applied subsequent to the application of metal film by autocatalytic deposition or of any strike coatings after autocatalytic deposition. Each coating shall be designated a classification code, which comprises of the following numbers and symbols: service condition number, which indicates the severity of exposure for which the coating is intended; coating classification number, which contains the chemical symbol of each metallic element that comprises the coating, and their corresponding thickness; and symbols for expressing the type of coating. The coatings shall be sampled, tested, and conform to specified requirements as to appearance (visual defects), ductility, minimum thickness (inspected either by coulometric, microscopical, or beta backscatter methods), corrosion and thermal cycling resistance, adhesion, sulfur content, density, and discontinuities.