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REV. H
AEROSPACE MATERIAL AMS2473

SPECIFICATION Issued 1953-02

Reaffirmed 2007-07
Revised 2013-08

Superseding AMS2473G

Chemical Film Treatment for Aluminum Alloys

General Purpose Coating

RATIONALE

AMS2473H results from a Five Year Review and update of this specification.

NOTICE

No further reproduction or networking is permitted.

ORDERING INFORMATION: The following information shall be provided to the processor by the purchaser.

1) Purchase order shall specify not less than the following:

• AMS2473H

• Basis metal to be conversion coated

• Quantity of pieces to be conversion coated

• Special features, geometry or processing present on parts that requires special attention by the processor

• Optional: Specific color, if required

• Optional: Specific instructions or restrictions on coating material type, if specified

2) Parts manufacturing operations such as heat treating, forming, joining and media finishing can affect the condition of

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the substrate and adversely affect the finished part. The sequencing of these types of operations should be specified
by the cognizant engineering organization or purchaser and is not controlled by this specification.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be revised, reaffirmed, stabilized, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and
suggestions.
Copyright © 2013 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
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SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2473H Page 2 of 6

1. SCOPE

1.1 Purpose

This specification establishes the requirements for chemical-film (conversion) coatings on aluminum alloys.

1.2 Application

This process has been used typically for increasing the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy parts, as a base for paint or
other organic finishes, and for repair of abraded surfaces or discontinuous anodized coatings on aluminum alloy parts, but
usage is not limited to such applications. AMS2477 is intended for applications that include electrical bonding
requirements.

1.3 Safety - Hazardous Materials

While the materials, methods, applications, and processes described or referenced in this specification may involve the
use of hazardous materials, this specification does not address the hazards which may be involved in such use. It is the
sole responsibility of the user to ensure familiarity with the safe and proper use of any hazardous materials and to take
necessary precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all personnel involved.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The issue of the following documents in effect on the date of the purchase order forms a part of this specification to the
extent specified herein. The supplier may work to a subsequent revision of a document unless a specific document issue
is specified. When the referenced document has been cancelled and no superseding document has been specified, the

No further reproduction or networking is permitted.

last published issue of that document shall apply.

2.1 SAE Publications

Available from SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA
and Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside USA), www.sae.org.

AMS2477 Conversion Coating for Aluminum Alloys, Low Electrical Resistance Coating

AMS4037 Aluminum Alloy, Sheet and Plate, 4.4Cu - 1.5Mg - 0.60Mn (2024; -T3 Flat Sheet, -T351 Plate), Solution
Heat Treated

2.2 ASTM Publications

Available from ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
Tel: 610-832-9585, www.astm.org.

ASTM B 117 Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Testing Apparatus

ASTM D 3359 Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test Distributed by Thomson Reuters (Scientific) LLC, www.t

2.3 U.S. Government Publications

Available from the Document Automation and Production Service (DAPS), Building 4/D, 700 Robbins Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Tel: 215-697-6257, http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/.

MIL-PRF-23377 Primer Coatings, Epoxy Polyamide, Chemical and Solvent Resistant

MIL-PRF-85582 Primer Coatings, Epoxy, VOC Compliant, Chemical and Solvent Resistant

FED-STD-141 Paint, Varnish, Lacquer and Related Materials, Methods of Inspection, Sampling and Testing
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SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2473H Page 3 of 6

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Processing solution shall be an aqueous solution of chemicals which will form an oxide, phosphate, silicate, or
chromate coating meeting the requirements of 3.4.

3.1.1 Only processes that permit solution control by chemical analysis shall be used.

3.2 Preparation

3.3 Procedure

Coating shall be applied using a solution in accordance with 3.1 for a time and at a temperature that will produce coatings
meeting the requirements of 3.4, followed by rinsing and drying. If parts are not to be coated all over, areas that are to be
free of coating may be masked or the solution may be applied by brushing, swabbing, or spraying the surfaces to be
coated.

3.4 Properties

The coating shall conform to the following requirements:

3.4.1 Corrosion Resistance

Specimens in accordance with 4.3.2 shall show no evidence of corrosion beyond the limits specified below after exposure
for 168 hours ± 1 to salt spray corrosion testing conducted in accordance with ASTM B 117 except that the significant
surface shall be inclined approximately 6 degrees from the vertical.

No further reproduction or networking is permitted.

3.4.1.1 No test panel shall show more than five isolated spots or pits, none larger than 0.03 inch (0.8 mm) in diameter,
except those areas within 0.25 inch (6.4 mm) from identification markings and fixture contact marks remaining
after processing. Areas within 0.25 inch (6.4 mm) from the edges, identification markings, and racking points
shall be excluded. Loss of color shall not be cause for rejection. See 8.5.

3.4.1.2 No more than 15 isolated spots or pits, none larger than 0.03 inch (0.8 mm) in diameter on all five test panels,
See 8.5.

3.4.2 Primer Adhesion

Specimens in accordance with 4.3.2 shall be finished with one coat of MIL-PRF-23377 or MIL-PRF-85582 epoxy primer to
a dry film thickness of 0.0006 to 0.0009 inch (15 to 23 µm). Coated panels shall be allowed to dry for not less than 72
hours and tested for adhesion in accordance with FED-STD-141, Method 6301 or ASTM D3359 Method A Wet. There
shall be no evidence of separation between primer and conversion coating or between conversion coating and substrate.

3.4.3 Color

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Coating shall be any distinctive color and/or iridescence that distinguishes coated from the uncoated surfaces. See 8.4.

3.5 Quality

The coating, as received by purchaser, shall be continuous, adherent to basis metal, and visually free from powdery
residue, pin holes, pits, and other imperfections detrimental to usage of the parts. Appearance shall be uniform although
slight variations in color and/or iridescence are permissible.
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SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2473H Page 4 of 6

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

4.1 Responsibility for Inspection

The coating processor shall supply all samples for processor’s tests and shall be responsible for the performance of all
required tests. Parts, if required for tests, shall be supplied by purchaser. Purchaser and the cognizant engineeering
organization reserve the right to sample and to perform any confirmatory testing deemed necessary to ensure that
processing conforms to specified requirements.

4.2 Classification of Tests

4.2.1 Acceptance Tests

Color (3.4.3) and quality (3.5) are acceptance tests and shall be performed on parts from each lot.

4.2.2 Periodic Tests

Corrosion resistance (3.4.1) and primer adhesion (3.4.2) are periodic tests and shall be performed at least monthly unless
frequency of testing is specified by the purchaser or cognizant engineering organization. Tests of cleaning and processing
solutions are periodic tests and shall be performed at a frequency established by the processor unless frequency of testing
is specified by the purchaser or cognizant engineering organization. See 8.6 and 4.4.3.

4.2.2.1 Periodic testing may be suspended in any test period when parts are not processed, however, preproduction
testing may be required by the purchaser or cognizant quality organization upon resumption of processing

No further reproduction or networking is permitted.

4.2.3 Preproduction Tests

All property verification tests (section 3.4) are preproduction tests and shall be performed prior to or on the initial shipment
of coated parts to a purchaser and when the purchaser or cognizant engineering organization requires confirmatory
testing.

4.3 Sampling for Testing

Test samples shall be randomly selected from all parts in the lot. A lot shall be all parts of the same part number,
processed in a continuous series of operations (3.2 and 3.3), in not longer than 8 consecutive hours, and presented for
processor’s inspection at one time. Unless the purchaser or cognizant engineering organization provides a sampling plan,
the minimum number of samples shall be as shown in Table 1. Examination shall be made with the unaided eye.

TABLE 1 – SAMPLING FOR ACCEPTANCE TESTING

Number of Parts
in Lot Quality

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5 or less All
6 to 50 5
51 to 90 7
91 to 150 11
151 to 280 13
281 to 500 16
501 to 1200 19
1201 to 3200 23

4.3.1 Periodic Tests

Five test panels are required for corrosion resistance tests. Two test panels are required for primer adhesion tests.
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SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2473H Page 5 of 6

4.3.2 Specimen configuration

Test specimens for corrosion and primer adhesion shall be 0.025 to 0.063 inch (0.64 to 1.60 mm) thick and not less than
3 × 10 inches (76 x 254 mm) in width and length fabricated from 2024-T3 aluminum alloy in accordance with AMS4037
processed in accordance with 3.2 and 3.3.

4.4 Approval

4.4.1 The process and control factors, a preproduction sample part, or both, whichever is specified, shall be approved
by the cognizant engineering organization before production parts are supplied.

4.4.2 If the processor makes a significant change to any material, process, or control factor from that which was used
for process approval, all preproduction tests shall be performed and the results submitted to the cognizant
engineering organization for process reapproval unless the change is approved by the cognizant engineering
organization. A significant change is one that, in the judgment of the cognizant engineering organization, could
affect the properties or performance of the coated parts.

4.4.3 Control factors for the process shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Surface preparation
Type of bath used
Composition limits for coating solution
Processing temperature limits
Drying temperature
Frequency of processing solution analysis

No further reproduction or networking is permitted.

Periodic test plan for cleaning and processing solutions. See 8.6.

4.5 Reports

The processor of coated parts shall furnish with each shipment a report stating that the parts have been processed and
tested in accordance with specified requirements and that they conform to the acceptance test requirements. This report
shall include the purchase order number, lot number, AMS2473H, part number, and quantity.

4.6 Resampling and Retesting

4.6.1 If any acceptance test fails to meet specified requirements, parts in that lot may be stripped, pretreated, coated as
defined herein, and retested. Alternatively, all parts in the lot may be inspected for the nonconforming attribute and
the nonconforming parts may be stripped, pretreated, coated as defined herein, and tested.

4.6.1.1 When stripping is performed, the method shall be approved by the cognizant engineering organization and shall
not roughen, pit, or adversely affect part dimensions. When parts have been stripped and replated, the
purchaser shall be informed.

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4.6.2 If any periodic test fails to meet specified test requirements, the process is nonconforming. No additional parts
shall be coated until the process is corrected and new specimens are coated and tested. Results of all tests shall
be recorded and, when requested, reported. Purchaser shall be notified of all parts coated since the last
acceptable test.

5. PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY

5.1 Coated parts shall be handled and packaged to ensure that the required physical characteristics and properties of
the coating are preserved.

5.2 Packages of coated parts shall be prepared for shipment in accordance with commercial practice and in compliance
with applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the handling, packaging, and transportation of the coated parts to
ensure carrier acceptance and safe delivery.
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SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2473H Page 6 of 6

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

A processor shall mention this specification number and its revision letter in all quotations and when acknowledging
purchase orders.

7. REJECTIONS

Parts on which the coating does not conform to this specification, or to modifications authorized by purchaser, will be
subject to rejection.

8. NOTES

8.1 A change bar (|) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical
revisions, not editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of this document. An (R) symbol to the left of
the document title indicates a complete revision of the document, including technical revisions. Change bars and (R)
are not used in original publications, nor in documents that contain editorial changes only.

8.2 The parts manufacturer should ensure that the surfaces of the metal parts supplied to the processor are free from
blemishes, pits, tool marks, and other irregularities that will affect the quality of the finished parts. Imperfections and
variations in appearance that arise from surface conditions of the substrate, such as porosity, scratches, or
inclusions, that persist in the coating despite the observance of accepted industry practices shall not be cause for
rejection.

8.3 Exposure of chromated parts to temperatures over 140 °F (60 °C) may adversely affect the corrosion protective
properties. The effect is most readily apparent on 2XXX and 7XXX series alloys.

No further reproduction or networking is permitted.

8.4 Coatings may be transparent and typically range from iridescent yellow to olive green or bluish. Cast parts may
exhibit more color variation than parts fabricated from wrought materials.

8.5 A corrosion pit or spot can usually be distinguished from other indications by a tail or line of corrosion product under
the pit or spot. Pit size may be determined by either direct dimensional measurement or by comparison to known
references.

8.6 ARP4992 periodic test plan for process solutions is recommended to satisfy the requirements for control of
processing solutions.

8.7 Dimensions and properties in inch/pound units and the Fahrenheit temperatures are primary; dimensions and
properties in SI units and the Celsius temperatures are shown as the approximate equivalents of the primary units
and are presented only for information.

8.8 Terms used in AMS are clarified in ARP1917.

PREPARED BY AMS COMMITTEE “B”

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