ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

DECORATIVE ELECTROPLATING ON STEEL, ∇ SK-M1P9103-A

BLACK OR LOW GLOSS BLACK

INTERIOR PARTS

1. SCOPE

The material defined by this specification defines performance requirements for finished coatings of
electrodeposited copper, bright or low gloss nickel, bright and black chromium, or black chromium for
the decoration and protection of steel and/or iron surfaces.

2. APPLICATION

This specification was released originally for a coating where a black or low gloss black decorative
and/or protective metallic finish is required. Black chromium plating is available for production usage on
interior and limited exterior applications. There are no restrictions on the interior usage of black
chromium, however, exterior usage must be limited to applications which are not subjected to severe in-
service or cleaning abrasion.

Areas excluded from the application of black chromium are bumpers, radiator grilles, head lamp door,
rocker panel, and wheel opening moldings etc. Long thin-walled rolled or stamped sections are not
recommended for plating due top their flexibility which causes the brittle plate to crack and prematurely
corrode.

3. REQUIREMENTS

Material specification requirements are to be used for initial qualification of materials.

3.0 STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCTION MATERIALS

Material suppliers and part producers must conform to the Company's Standard Requirements
For Production Materials (WSS-M99P1111-A).

3.1 APPEARANCE

All parts shall have the finish specified on the Engineering drawing. The plated parts shall be
free from surface imperfections such as rough or orange peel conditions, crazing, cold shuts,
pits, slivers, dullness, stains, discoloration, breaks in the plate, and wheel marks or buff lines to
the extent required by specifications for the visual inspection of appearance items established
by Product Development. Black or low gloss black chromium parts shall match the approved
Styling master sample for appearance.

3.1.1 Buffing of Plating

Because of the potential adverse effect on corrosion resistance and appearance,

buffing of final chromium plating on exterior parts is not permitted. Brushing or other
approved mechanical treatments on nickel coatings are permitted provided that
minimum plating thickness requirements are met after treatment.

Date Action Revisions

2006 05 18 Revised Inserted 3.0; Deleted 3.7, 3.8 & 4; Removed Inactive SK-M1P9104-A;
Replaced by WSB-M1P78-B2/B4
1989 07 31 B/031826TC Retyped, revised clause 3.4, was 9 sheets
1973 04 24 A/CE4484KC Released, based on ESB-M1P57/58-A
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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

∇ SK-M1P9103-A

3.2 ADHESION

The plate shall adhere to the base metal and show no separation between layers of plate when
tested as follows:

3.2.1 Sawing

Position the part in a vice or holding fixture so that the significant plated surface is
perpendicular to the saw blade and the cutting motion of the blade is in a direction
which tends to pull the plating away from the base metal.

3.2.2 Bending

Any section of the part containing a significant plated surface shall be positioned in a
vice or holding fixture and subjected to repeated bending until fracture of the section.

3.3 PLATING THICKNESS

Minimum plating thickness requirements for significant surfaces are shown in section 3.3.3.

3.3.1 Significant Surfaces

All surfaces visible on a part as assembled in a vehicle or surfaces which can be the
source of corrosion products visible on an assembled vehicle are significant surfaces.
Except as noted on the Engineering drawing, all significant surfaces shall meet the
corrosion and plated thickness requirements as detailed in 3.3.3.

Threads shall be completely plated, but shall not be considered as significant

surfaces, unless so indicated on the Engineering drawing.

3.3.2 Plating Thickness Measurement

The optical measurement of copper and nickel deposits on significant surfaces shall
be considered the standard thickness test method (ASTM B 487).

3.3.2.1 The electrolytic deplating method described in ASTM B 504 for bright
chromium plate, and FLTM BQ 003-05 for black chromium plating shall
be used.

3.3.3 Minimum Plating Thickness and Corrosion Resistance Requirements, micrometers

Application

Copper 0.5(a)

Nickel:

Semi-Bright -

Bright or low gloss* 7

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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

∇ SK-M1P9103-A

Application

Total not including

Chromium 15

Chromium-Bright 0.13

Chromium-Black 0.13

Corrosion Resistance CASS/Hours 4

*Low gloss nickel containing inorganic particles, insoluble in the plating bath, which
are co-deposited with the nickel, or soluble organic addition agents which are co-
deposited with the nickel, or mechanically applied low gloss treatment of the bright or
low gloss nickel (i.e. brushed or glass bead blasted).

#When other color variations are desired, the bright chromium may be deleted. (See
section 4.2).

(a) Initial copper may be replaced with nickel provided parts meet all other
requirements of this specification.

(b) Initial copper be replaced with semi-bright nickel provided parts meet all other
requirements of this specification.

NOTE

When copper is used, the nickel requirements apply to the layer of nickel
intermediate between copper and chromium.

3.4 CORROSION TEST (COPPER ACETIC SALT SPRAY)

The test shall be conducted as described in FLTM BQ 105-01. CASS test for the time required
in 3.3.3.

Failure is defined as:

a) Any corrosion spot over 1.5 mm diameter.

b) Pitting amounting to more than 10 spots 1.0 mm diameter or larger in any grid area of 100
(6.0 x 6.0 mm) spaces.

c) Corrosion spots in 15 or more spaces of a 100 square grid section placed anywhere on
the significant surface.

d) More than 2% corrosion of the entire significant surface. When the low gloss finish is
specified for glare reduction surfaces, the specular gloss of the surface shall not exceed
40 units maximum when measured by the 20° method in ASTM standard D523-62 T.

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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

∇ SK-M1P9103-A

∇ 3.4.1 Surface Finish

When the low gloss finish is specified for glare reduction surfaces, the specular gloss
of the surface shall not exceed 40 units maximum when measured by the 20° method
in ASTM standard D523-62 T.

3.5 CLEANING PRIOR TO ELECTROPLATING

Steel parts containing 0.35% carbon or more at the surface, or heat treated to Rockwell C-30 or
higher, shall be cleaned using the principles defined in ASTM B-242, "Preparation of High
Carbon Steel for Electroplating". Steels containing less than 0.35% carbon at the surface, or
lower than Rockwell C-30 in hardness, shall be cleaned using the principles defined in ASTM B-
183, "Preparation of Low Carbon Steel for Electroplating".

3.6 BRITTLENESS OF PLATED PARTS

Parts supplied shall be free from the detrimental effects of hydrogen embrittlement or other
factors which result in part brittleness. All heat treating operations, including tempering after
quenching or stress relief after cold forming, shall be completed prior to plating. Electroplated
steel parts containing 0.35% carbon or more at the surface, or heat treated to Rockwell C-30 or
higher, or highly stressed cold worked parts, shall be heated within one (1) hour maximum after
electroplating to a temperature of 204 °C for 4 hours at heat. Higher temperatures and/or
longer times may be used if necessary to avoid any detrimental effects of hydrogen
embrittlement. Hardened parts which have been tempered at less than 204 °C shall be heated
within one (1) hour maximum after electroplating to a temperature of 149 °C for 8 hours at heat,
or longer if necessary.

5. GENERAL INFORMATION:

The information given below is provided for clarification and assistance in meeting the requirements of
this specification.

5.1 METHOD OF PLATING: Copper, Nickel, Chromium, Black Chromium Plating

It is not intended to limit in any way the formula or procedure of plating. Any process resulting
in a satisfactory adherent plate meeting the requirements of this specification will be approved.

5.2 DURABILITY AND APPEARANCE

The general appearance and abrasion resistance will vary depending on the plating layer
beneath the black chromium plate. The black chromium will appear to have a brown cast when
plated directly over nickel. The color of the black chromium is a more positive black when
plated over bright chromium. The abrasion resistance is better when black chromium is plated
over bright chromium, than when black chromium is plated over nickel.

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