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IS 1067 (1981): Electroplated coatings of silver for

decorative and protective purposes [MTD 24: Corrosion
Protection]

! $ ' +-
Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda

Invent a New India Using Knowledge

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ISt1067-1981

Indian Standard

( Reaffirmed 2006 )

SPECIFICATION FOR
ELECTROPLATED COATINGS OF SILVER FOR
DECORATIVE AND PROTECTIVE PURPOSES

I
:
i

( Second Revision )
First Reprint APRIL 1988
UDC 669.228.7

0
BUREAU

OF

MANAK BHAVAN,

Gr 3

Copyright 1982

INDIAN
STANDARDS
9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARC3

NEW DELHI 110002

Indian Stan&d
SPECIFICATION FOR
ELECTROPLATED COATINGS OF SILVER FOR
DECORATIVE AND PROTECTIVE PURPOSES

( Second Revision )
Metallic Finishes Sectional Committee, SMDC 23
Representing

Chairman
DH R. C. SHA~MA

Eveready

Flashlight

Company,

Lucknow

Members
Central Electrochemical
Research Institute ( CSIR ,)
Karaikudi
SHRI S. R. NATARAJAN ( Alternate )
Ministry of Defence ( R gi D )
SHRI G. S. BHATTACHA~JEE
SHRI I. N. BIIATIA ( Alternate )
National Test House, Calcutta
SHRI S. C. BHAWAL
SHRI A. K. KALRA ( Alternate )
Metal Box India Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI T. K. BOSE
SHRI A. R. SUTARIA( Alternate )
Premier Automobiles
Ltd, Bombay
SIIRI A. T. BORATE
SHRI A. G. PRABHU ( Alternate )
Ministry of Defence ( DGI )
SHRI M. Y. BORDER
SHRI P. K, SEN ( Alternate )
Premier Metal Finishers (P) Ltd, Calcutta
SRRI M. S. CHAKR4VORTY
SHHI R. K. CHATTERJEE ( A~Urnatc )
Canning Mitra Phoenix Ltd, Bombay
SHRI AIIINURA CHATTERJEE
SHRI KANTILAL T. DALAL
Kohinoor Electra-Gilders,
Bombay
SHKIJaYENDRA K. D.~LAL ( Alternate )
Indian Telephone Industries Ltd, Bangalore
DaR.P.
DAB~BAI,
DEPUTY
DIRECTOR ( CHEM ), Ministry of Railways
RDSO, LTTCICNOW
C H E M I s T & METALLVRQIST,
ICF, MADRAS ( Alternate )
Perfect Industries, Punt
SHRI G. T. DESHMUXH
SHRI G. S. EKBOTE ( Alternnte )
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore
SHRI S. E. EMANUAL
Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department,
Calcutta
SHRI S. N. GANA
SHRI P. B. SYAM ( Alternate )
NGEF Ltd, Bangalore
SHRI K. HIRALAL
SHRI ASWATHANARAYANA ( Alternate )
( Continued en pOfe 2 )
SHRI K. BALA~R~ANAN

@ Cobrrinht 1982
BUREAU
OF INDIAN
STANDARDS
Thii publication
is protected under the Indian Copyright Act ( XIV
of 1957 ) and
reproduction
in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement
of copyright under the said Act.

IS 81967 1981
l

( cbntinud

ffompuge1)
Repnmting

ilfcmbcrs

Grauer and Weil ( India ) Ltd, Bombay

.SRRIV. S.KIJLKARNI
SHRI SUSHIL GOINKA ( Alternate )
National Metallurgical
L a b o r a t o r y ( CSIR
DRS.K.
NARANQ

SHRI R.

SEN

I-Iin&~~p,u,,Ies
( Dist Burdwan

Ltd
)

),

Rupnarainpur

SWRI KALYAN
GHOSH( Allcrnatc )
Ronuk Industries Ltd, Bombay
SHRIR.A.SHAH
KUMARI MFCIDULA A. SHAR ( Alt~rriatc )
Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore
SHRIR. SOMASERIfAIf.4
SIIRI K. NAQESH(
Afternutc)
Development
Commissioner
( Small
Industries
SHRI V.THIYAQARAJAN
Services Institute ), New Delhi
T. 1. Cycles of India, Madras
SHRI R. VENKAT.4R.\JIAN
Director General, BIS ( E.x-oficio Mctnbcr )
SHRI C. R RAMA RAO,
Director ( Strut & Met )

SWRI 0. N. DASGUPTA
Deputy Director
( Met ), Bpj
SHRIS.K.CUPT.4
Assistant Director ( Met ), BIS

IS : 1067 - 1981

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR
ELECTROPLATED COATINGS OF SILVER FOR
DECORATIVE AND PROTECTIVE PURPOSES

( Second Revision )
0. FOREWORD
0.1 This Indian Standard ( Second Revision ) was adopted by the
Indian Standards
Institution on 30 November 1981, after the draft
finalized by the Metallic&Finishes Sectional Committee had been approved
by the Structural and Metals Division Council.
In this revision, method
0.2 This standard was earlier revised in 1968.
for determination of lead content of silver plating, requirements of
undercoats and two more grades have been added. Typical applications
of various grades have also been included.
0.3 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular
requirement of
this standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated,
expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded ,off in
The number of significant
places
accordance
with IS : 2-1960*.
retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the
specified value in this standard.

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard specifies requirements of six grades for electroplated
coatings of silver for decorative and/or protective applications.
Jt does
not apply to coatings on screw threads, to coatings applied on sheet or
strip in the unfa%ricated form.
2. TERMINOLOGY
2.0 For
apply.

the purpose

of this standard,

*Rules for rounding off numerical

the following

definitiois

shall

values ( m&f).

IS t 1967 - 1981
2.1 Surface to work.

The surface of the article on which the electropIater

has

22 Significant Surface -The

part of the surface which is to
covered by the silver coating and which is essential to the appearance
serviceability or both of the article.
The significant surface shall
subject to agreement between the purchaser and the plater and has to
indicated on drawings or by the provision of suitably marked sample.
3. CONDITION

be
or
be
be

OF SURFACE

3.1 The condition of surface to be plated may influence the finish and
behaviour of the plated articles.
The basis metal may be suitably pretreated before depositing silver as agreed to between the parties. Mercury
shall not be used in the pretreatment ( see Table 1 ).
TABLE 1 THICKNESS OF UNDERCOATS
UNDERCOATS

BASIS MATERIAL

Copper

None

Copper alloys

C opper

freecutting
containing

( notably
brass
lead )

MINIMUMTHJCKNESS
OF UNDERCOAT(S)

or

nickel

To be agreed

may be required

Ferrous materials ( other

than austenitic stainlc:sp
Sleel

Nickel
or copper

Austenitic

An acid nickel strike

( Woods. . bath
) will
.
normally br rrqu~rcd

Thin
coati ing,,
to
promote ad heslon of
the silver coating

Copper

stainless

steel

Zinc and zinc alloys

Aluminium
aluminium

and

+ nickel

( cop?rr

) +
10 ( nickel )

Nickel*

20

Nickel
or
COppt-r
may be required to
me&
functional
or
other
reauirements
of this stan&rtl

To be agrred

alloys

Other
basis
materials
and basis metal with
soldered joints

Ifrequested
the microscopic
of electroplated

10
10 ( copper )+
5 ( nickel )

+ nickel

by the purchaser! the thickness of any undercoat shall be mrasurcd by

Methods of testing local thickness
method specified m 1s : 3203-1965
coatings.

+.&n initial copper coating may be employed

thickness of&e nickel coating shall not be reduced.

under

the

nickel

coating

but the

IS:1067-1981
4. GRADES
4.1 Silver plated articles shall be of six grades as specified in Table 2.
TABLE 2
GRADE

GRADES

MINIPJITMLOCAI.
T~ICKNEW

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Pm

25

Items liable to receive

severe wear in service,
for example,
restaurant
and high
quality
place settings of cutlery and flatware

15

Standard
quality
cutlery
high quality hollow ware

13

Serving
items of restaurant
and
domestic
cutlery and flatware

10

Medium quality hollow ware, and serving

of standard
cutlery and flatware

flatware

Domestic
trophies

hollow ware for occasional

other than replicas

Souvenir
limited

articles, trophy
bandling

replicas,

micrometers

and

high quality

NOTE - For decorative

coatings
of grades
lower
than
lacquer finish may be given if required
by the purchaser.

5. QUALITY

and

items

use and

etc, receiving

thickness

10,

OF COATING

5.1 Silver anodes used for platin,m shall conform to IS : 1959-1961*.

5.2 The coating shall stand the adhesion test specified in 7.2.
5.3 Parity of Coating - The silver content of the deposited coating
shall be not less than 98 percent by mass when determined by the methud
given in 7.3.
5.4 Lead Content - The lead content of the silver deposit shall not be
more than O-02 percent when determined in accordance with method
given in Appendix A.
6. FINISH AND APPEARANCE
6.1 Electroplated
articles shall be of acceptable standard of workmanship and finish. These shall be free from spinning or tool marks,
surface imperfections and other blemishes like patches, stains, etc.
*Specification

for silver

anodes

for electroplating.

IS : 1067 - 1981

6.2 The articles shall be free from red patches which are generally
caused by extensive pressure during polishing.
Red patches shall be
detected by breathing on the article and holding it in a reflected light.
Such patches shall be eliminated by cleaning the article in an alkaline
cleaning solution to remove grease and then dipping it in dilute hydrochloric acid ( 1 : 5 ). It shall then be dried and finished with a soft
silver-finishing mop. The type of finish with or without lacquering
should be agreed to between the supplier and the purchaser.
7. TESTS
7.1 Thickness
Test - The thickness of each grade shall be determined
by the microscopic method given in IS : 3203-1965*.

7.1.1 Alternative methods ( for example, area/weight method ) are

available and may be used by agreement between the plater and the
purchaser, but in case of dispute, the microscopic method as specified in
IS : 3203-19658 shall be used.
7.2 Adhesion

Test

7.2.1 An area of not more than 6 cma of the plated surface, selected at
the discretion of the inspector, shall be rubbed rapidly and firmly for
15 seconds with a smooth metal implement.
The burnished area shall
then be visually inspected and if there is no indication of the deposit
becoming detached from the basis metal, the adhesion shall be deemed
adequate.
7.2.1.1 A suitable burnishing implement is a copper disc ( such as,
a copper coin ) used edgewise, and broadside.
The pressure shall be
sufficient to burnish the film at every stroke, but not SO great as to cut
the deposit. Poor adhesion will be shown on the appearance of a loose
blister which grows as rubbing is continued. If the quality of: the
deposit is also poor, the blister may crack and the plating will peel away
from the basis metal.
7.2.2 Thermal Shock Test - Raise the temperature of the sample to 200
to 300C in air over a period of approximately 30 minutes, hold at this
temperature for 10 to 60 minutes? and cod by immersion in water at
ambient temperature.
Examine the coating for signs of blistering or
detachment under a magnification of 8 x .
-

*Metho& of testing local thickness of electroplated

tThe temperature
to which the sample should
which this temperature
should be maintained
should
substrate combination
being tested.

coatings.
be heated and the duration over
be established
for the coating/

IS:1067-1981
7.3 Test for Purity of Coating - Carefully
remove
not less than
5 mg of the coating from the article or articles using a suitable scraper
tool.
Otily a very light pressure should be applied
and the scraping
should be taken over a sufficiently
large area of the surface to avoid
penetration
of the basis metal.
Carry out a spectrographic
analysis of
the material
so removed
using a graphite
cup as anode.and
dc arc
excitation.
With the aid of suitable standards,
determine
the percentages
of any impurity
elements detected.
If a high percentage
of copper and
nickel is found a further scraping should be taken as it is an indication
that the basis metal may have been penetrated.
7.3.1 Alternatively,
fire assay method as describecl in IS : 211%1572:
may be used for determining
the purity of silver coating by scraping a
suitable weight of silver coating as under 7.3.
7.4 Corrosion
Resistance
and/or Porosity - Where
corrosion
resistance and/or porosity are important,
the parts shall be subjected
to
one or more corrosion and/or porosity tests, specified by the purchaser,
which relate to the environment
in which the silver and -silver alloy
electroplated
parts are to be exposed.
8. MARKING
8.1 Silver plated articles shall be marked with the grade,
coating and name or trade-mark
of the manufacturer.
8.1.1 Silver plated
Standard
Mark,

articles

may

also

be

marked

purity
with

of rhe
the

NOTE - The use of the Standard Mark is governed by the provisions of the
Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986,and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder. The Standard Mark on products covered by an Indian Standard conveys
the assurance that they have been produced to comply with the requirements of that
standard under a well defined system of inspection,
testing and quality control
which is devised and supervised by BIS and operated by the producer.
Standard
marked products are also continuously
checked by BIS for conformity
to that
Details of conditions under which a licence for
standard as a further safeguard.
the USC. OF the Standard Mark may be granted to manufacturers or producers may
be obtained from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

9. SAMPLING
9.1 Sampling
for Acceptance of a Lot - For the
acceptance,
a lot shall be divided into sub-lots consisting of
or part thereof of such articles as are electroplated
at one
Two samples shall be selected from each
same bath.
subjected to the appropriate
tests as specified in 7.
Methods

purpose
of
100 articles
time in the
sub-lot
and

for assaying of silver in silver and silver alloys ( first mision ).

IS t 1667 - 1981
9.2 Criteria for Acceptance - If these samples pass
lot represented
by them shall be accepted.
If one or
should fail, two further samples shall be selected from
and subjected
to the tests.
If these samples pass the
shall be accepted.
If any of the second set of samples
the sub-lot shall be rejected.
10. SEPARATE

the tests, the subboth the samples

the same sub-lot
tests, the sub-lot
fails in any test,

SPECIMENS

10.1 When plated

articles
cannot
be subjected
to any of the specified
tests, a specimen of the same basis metal conforming
in size and shape
to the article
as far as possible should be plated along with the article
under identical
conditions
for the purpose of testing.

APPENDIX
( Clause5.4)
METHOD
A-l.

FOR DETERMINATION
OF LEAD CONTENT
SILVER PLATING

COLLECTION

OF SAMPLE

A-l.1 Vie a clean stainless

steel cathode
in the plating
bath.
deposited layer may be peeled off this cathode and used for testing.
Ad.

REAGENTS

The

Nitric

Acid -

rd = 1.42

( conforming

to
ti

Glacial Acetic Acid

A-2.3 Ammonia

( Analar Grade )

A-2.1 Concentrated
IS : 264-1976* )
A-2.2

OF

B,

Solution

A-2.4 Hydrogen Peroxide

A-2.5 Sodium Sulphide Solution
A-26

Lead Nitrate Solution ( 0.1 mg Pb/ml )

Cyanide Solution ( True Single Salt ) - Dissolve

cyanide
in 700 ml of distilled water.
Add 3 ml of
hydrogen
peroxide ( 6 percent ). Let it stand
for a day.
Dilute
the
solution to 100 ml. This will make a potassium cyanide solution ( 6 N ).
A-2.7

Potassium

39 g of potassium

*Specification for nitric acid ( second

revision
).

'

IS : 1067- 1981
A-3. PROCEDURE
A-3.1 Take 2 ml of water in a 50-m! Nessler tube? add 0.5 ml of concentrated nitric acid. Then add 0.5 g of silver deposrte. Then add 6 ml
of water, 1.5 ml of glacial acetic acid.
Add ammonia solution till
Add 10 ml of potassium cyanide solution.
Then make up to
alkaline.
50 ml. Add a drop of sodium sulphide solution.
A brown colour is
obtained if lead is present.
Compare this colour with standard lead
solution.
Standardize the solution as follows:
Take 1 ml of lead nitrate solution. Add 6 ml of water, 1.5 ml
of glacial acetic acid and then ammonia solution till alkaline. Add
10 ml of potassium cyanide solution Make up to 50 ml. Add a
drop of sodium sulphide solution. A brown colburation is obtained.
Compare brown colouration obtained with silver with this standard
lead solution.
If the intensity of the former is less than or equal to
that of the latter, then lead content in the silver deposit is within
permissible limit ( that is 0.02 percent ).
NOTE - Potassium cyanide forms a complex cyanide of silver and prevents it
from reacting with sodium sulphide. One millilitre of silver solution ( 1 N ) requires
12 ml of potassium cyanide ( 1 N ) for complete prevention of formation of ,silver
sulphide.

In this quantity
would be 500 x

of silver, maximum
2
- = O-1 mg.
10 006

permissible

lead

content

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