Designation: B571 − 97 (Reapproved 2013)

Standard Practice for

Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic Coatings 1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B571; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original
original adoption or, in the case of revis
revision,
ion, the year of last revision.
revision. A number in paren
parenthese
thesess indicates the year of last reappr
reapproval.
oval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Sco
Scope
pe of either. Such adhesion is usually obtained if good electro-
1.1 This practice covers
covers simple, qualitative
qualitative tests for evalu- plating practices are followed.
ating the adhesion of metallic coatings on various substances. 2.5 For many purposes,
purposes, the adhesion test has the objecti
objective
ve
1.2 Th
1.2 Thee va
valu
lues
es sta
stated
ted in SI un
units
its are to be re
rega
gard
rded
ed as of detecting any adhesion less than “perfect.” For such a test,
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this one uses any means available
available to attempt to separate the coating
standard. from the substrate. This may be prying, hammering, bending,
beating, heating, sawing, grinding, pulling, scribing, chiseling,
1.3 This standar
standard d doe
doess not purport
purport to add
addre
ress
ss all of the
or a com
combin
binatio
ationn of suc
such
h tre
treatme
atments
nts.. If the coa
coatin
ting
g pee
peels,
ls,
safet
safetyy co
conc
ncer
erns
ns,, if an
anyy, as
asso
socia
ciate
ted
d wi
with
th its us
use.
e. It is th
thee
flakes,
flak es, or lift
liftss fro
from
m the substrat
substrate,
e, the adhesion
adhesion is less than
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
perfect.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 2.6 If evaluation
evaluation of adhesion is required,
required, it may be desirable
to use one or more of the following tests. These tests have
2. Sign
Significan
ificance
ce and Use varying degrees of severity; and one might serve to distinguish
2.1 The
These
se tes
tests
ts are useful
useful for product
production
ion control
control and for between satisfactory and unsatisfactory adhesion in a specific
application. The choice for each situation must be determined.
acceptance testing of products.
2.2 Inter
Interpretin
preting
g the results of qualitative
qualitative methods for deter- 2.7 When this guideline
guideline is used for acceptance
acceptance inspection,
inspection,
mining the adhesion of metallic coatings is often a controver- the method or methods to be used must be specified. Because
sial subject. If more than one test is used, failure to pass any the results of tests in cases of marginal adhesion are subject to
one test is considered unsatisfactory. In many instances, the interpretation, agreement shall be reached on what is accept-
end use of the coated article or its method of fabrication will able.
suggest the technique that best represents functional require- 2.8 If the size and shape of the item to be testtested
ed preclude
precludess
ments.
men ts. Fo
Forr ex
exam
ampl
ple,
e, an ar
artic
ticle
le th
that
at is to be su
subs
bseq
eque
uent
ntly
ly use of th
use thee de
desi
sign
gnate
ated
d tes
test,
t, eq
equi
uiva
valen
lentt te
test
st pa
pane
nels
ls may be
formed would suggest a draw or a bend test; an article that is approp
app ropria
riate.
te. If per
permitt
mitted,
ed, test pan
panels
els shall be of the same
to be soldered or otherwise exposed to heat would suggest a material and have the same surface finish as the item to be
heat-quench test. If a part requires baking or heat treating after tested
tested and shall be pro
proces
cessed
sed thr
throug
oughh the same preplating,
plating, adhesion tests should be carried out after such post- electroplating, and postplating cycle with the parts they repre-
treatment as well. sent.
2.3
2.3 Se
Sevevera
rall of th
thee te
tests
sts ar
aree li
limit
mited
ed to sp
speci
ecific
fic ty
type
pess of
coatings, thickness ranges, ductilities, or compositions of the 3. Bend Tests
Tests
substr
substrate
ate.. The
Thesese limi
limitati
tations
ons are not
noted
ed gen
genera
erally
lly in the test 3.1
3.1 Ben
Bend d th
thee pa
part
rt wi
with
th th
thee co
coate
ated
d su
surf
rface
ace aw
away
ay ov
over
er a
descriptions and are summarized in Table 1 for certain metallic mandrel until its two legs are parallel. The mandrel diameter
coatings. should be four times the thickness of the sample. Examine the
2.4 “Pe
“Perfe
rfect”
ct” adh
adhesi
esion
on exi
exists
sts if the bon
bondin
ding
g bet
betwee
weenn the deformed area visually under low magnification, for example,
coating and the substrate is greater than the cohesive strength 4×, for peeling or flaking of the coating from the substrate,
which is evidence of poor adhesion. If the coating fractures or
blisters, a sharp blade may be used to attempt to lift off the
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic coating. With hard or brittle coatings, cracking usually occurs
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.10 on in the bend area. Such cracks may or may not propagate into
Test Methods.
the substrate. In either case, cracks are not indicative of poor
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2013. Published December 2013. Originally
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B571 – 97 (2008) 1. ε adhesion unless the coating can be peeled back with a sharp
DOI: 10.1520/B0571-97R13. instrument.

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 B571 − 97 (2013)
TABLE 1 Adhesion Tests Appropriate for Various Coatings
Coating MaterialA

Adhesion Test Lead and Tin and

Nickel and
Cadm
Cadmiu
ium
m Chro
Chromi
mium
um Copp
Copper
er Lead/Tin Nickel Pall
Pallad
adiu
ium
m Rhod
Rhodiu
ium
m Silv
Silver
er Tin/Lead Zinc Gold
Chromium
Alloy Alloy
B e nd + − + + + + + + + + + +
Burnish − + + − + + − − + − + −
Chisel/knife + + + + + − + − + + − +
Draw − − + − + + − − − − + −
File − + + + + + − + + + − +
Grind and + + − − + + + − − + + −
saw
Heat/quench − + + + + + − − + + − +
Im p a c t + − + − + + − − − − + −
P e el − + + − + − − − + + − +
Pus h − − − − + + − − − − + −
Scribe − − + − + − − − − − − −
A
+ Appropriate;
Appropriate; − not appropriate.
appropriate.

TABLE 2 Temperature Test Guide

Coating Material
Chromium,
Lead, Gold and
Substrate Nickel,, Nickel +
Nickel Tin, Zinc, Palladium, Rhodium,
Tin/Lead, Silver,
Chromium, Temperature, Temperature, Temperature, Temperature,
Temperature, Temperature,
Copper, °C °C °C °C
°C °C
Temperature, °C
S te e l 250 1 50 15 0 15 0 25 0 3 50 18 5
Zinc alloys 15 0 150 150 1 50 1 50 1 50 1 50
Copper and 2 50 15 0 15 0 15 0 250 3 50 18 5
copper alloys
Aluminum and 2 20 15 0 15 0 15 0 220 2 20 18 5
aluminum alloys

3.2 Ben
Bendd the part rep
repeate
eatedly
dly,, bac
back
k and forth,
forth, thr
throug
ough
h an ordinary punc
ordinary punchh press.2 Pe
Pene
netr
trati
ation
on of th
thee ma
male
le di
diee ma
mayy be
angle of 180° until failure of the basis metal occurs. Examine continued until the cap fractures. The adhesion of the coating
the region at low magnification, for example, 10×, for separa- may be observed directly or evaluated further by techniques
tion or peeling of the coating. Prying with a sharp blade will described in Section 5 for detachment from the substrate. If
indicate unsatisfactory adhesion by lift off of the coating. ther
theree is pe
peel
elin
ing
g or fla
flaki
king
ng of ththee co
coat
atin
ing
g or if it ca
can
n be
detached, the adhesion is not satisfactory.
4. Burnishing Test
Test
6.2 Resul
Resultsts fro
fromm thi
thiss tec
techn
hniqu
iquee must
must be int
interp
erpret
reted
ed
4.1 Rub a coacoated
ted area of about 5 cm with a smo smooth
oth-en
-ended
ded cautio
cautiousl
uslyy, bec
becaus
ausee the duc
ductili
tilities
ties of bot
both
h the coa
coatin
ting
g and
tool for approximately 15 s. A suitable tool is a steel rod 6 mm substrate
substrate are involv
involved.
ed.
in dia
diamete
meterr with a smo
smooth
oth hem
hemisp
ispher
herical
ical end
end.. The pre
pressu
ssure
re
shall be sufficient to burnish the coating at each stroke but not 7. File Test
Test
so great as to dig into it. Blisters, lifting, or peeling should not
7.1 Saw off
off a piece of the coated specimen
specimen and inspect it for
develop. Generally, thick deposits cannot be evaluated satis-
detachment at the deposit/substrate interface. Apply coarse mill
factorily.
filee acr
fil acros
osss th
thee saw
sawed
ed ed
edge
ge fr
from
om ththee su
subs
bstr
trate
ate to
towa
ward
rd th
thee
5. Chisel-Knife Test
Test coating so as to raise it, using an approach angle of approxi-
mately 45° to the coating surface. Lifting or peeling is evidence
5.1 Use a sha
sharp
rp cold chisel
chisel to pen
penetr
etrate
ate the coating
coating on the of unsatisfactory adhesion.
article being evaluated. Alternativel
Alternativelyy the chisel may be placed
in back of an overhang area of the coating or at a coating- 7.2 This technique
technique is not suitab
suitable
le for thin or soft coatings.
coatings.
substrate interface exposed by sectioning the article with a saw.
8. Grind-Saw Test
Test
A kn
knif
ifee ma
mayy be su
subs
bstit
titut
uted
ed fo
forr th
thee ch
chis
isel
el wi
with
th or wi
with
thou
outt
hammer
ham mering
ing or ligh
lightt tap
tappin
ping.
g. If it is pos
possib
sible
le to rem
remove
ove the 8.1 Hold the coated article
article against a rough emery wheelwheel so
deposit, the adhesion is not satisfactory. Soft or thin coatings that the wheel cuts from substrate toward
toward the depos
deposit
it in a jerky
cannot be evaluated for adhesion by this method. or bu
bumpmpyy fa
fash
shio
ion.
n. A ha
hack
ck saw may be su subs
bstit
titut
uted
ed fo
forr th
thee
wheel
wh eel,, ma
maki
king
ng su
sure
re to saw in ththee di
dire
recti
ction
on ththat
at ten
tends
ds to
6. Draw Test
Test
6.1 Form a suitable
suitable sample about 60 mm in diameter intointo a 2
Romanoff, F. P., Transactions, Ele
Electr
ctroch
ochem.
em. Soc., Vol
Vol 65, 1934, p. 385
385;;
flanged cap approximately 38 mm in diameter, to a depth up to Proceedings, Amer. Electroplate
Electroplaters Vol 22, 1934, p. 155; Monthly Revie
rs Soc. Vol Review
w,
18 mm, th
thro
roug
ugh
h th
thee us
usee of a se
sett of adjusta
adjustabl
blee di
dies
es in an Amer. Electroplaters Soc., Vol 22, April 1935, p. 8.
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 B571 − 97 (2013)

separate the coating from the substrate. Lifting or peeling is 11.

1.2
2 The te tens
nsile
ile an
andd sh
shea
earr st
stre
reng
ngth
thss of ad
adhe
hesiv
sives
es an
and
d
evidence of unsatisfactory adhesion. sold
solder
erss lim
limit
it ththee ra
rang
ngee of ad
adhe
hesio
sion
n str
stren
engt
gths
hs th
that
at ca
cann be
evaluated. A quantitative analysis of the factors involved has
8.2 This technique
technique is especia
especially
lly effective
effective on hard or brittle
been published.3
coatings but is not suitable for thin or soft coatings.
12. Push Test
Test
9. Heat-Quenc
Heat-Quench
h Test
Test
12.1
12 .1 Dril
Drilll a blblin
ind
d ho
hole
le 0.
0.75
75 cm in di diam
amet
eter
er fr
from
om th
thee
9.1 Hea
Heatt the coated
coated arti
article
cle in an oven for a suf
suffficie
icient
nt time underside until the point of the drill tip comes within approxi-
for it to reach the temperature shown in Table 2. 2. Maintain the matel
ma tely
y 1.
1.5
5 mm of th thee de
depo
posi
sit/s
t/sub
ubstr
strate
ate in
inter
terfa
face
ce on th
thee
temperature of the oven within 10°C of the nominal. Coatings opposite side. Supporting the material on a ring about 2.5 cm
and substrates that are sensitive to oxidation should be heated in diameter, apply steady pressure over the blind hole using a
in an inert or reducing atmosphere or a suitable liquid. Then hardened steel punch 0.6 cm in diameter until a button sample
quen
qu ench
ch th
thee pa
part
rt in wa
wate
terr or ot
othe
herr su
suita
itabl
blee liq
liqui
uidd at ro
room
om is pus
pushed out..3 Exf
hed out Exfolia
oliatio
tion
n or pee
peelin
ling
g of the coating
coating in the
temperature. button or crater areas is evidence of inadequate adhesion.
9.2 Flakin
Flaking g or peeling of the depos
deposit
it is eviden
evidence
ce of unsat- 12.2 Soft, very ductile,
ductile, and thin deposits
deposits are gener
generally
ally not
isfacto
isfactory
ry adh
adhesio
esion.
n. Blis
Blisters
ters may eru
erupt
pt dur
during
ing the hea
heatt and suited for this technique.
quench
que nch tes
testt whe
whenn plat
plating
ing sol
solutio
ution
n is ent
entrap
rapped
ped in sub
substra
strate
te
surface pits or pores which are bridged by the deposit. If the 13. Scribe-Gri
Scribe-Grid
d Test
Test
deposited coating cannot be peeled or lifted from the substrate 13.1 Scrib
Scribee three or more parallel lines or a rectangular
rectangular grid
in an area adjacent to the blister(s), the appearance of blisters pattern on the article using a hardened steel tool ground to a
should not be interpreted as evidence of inferior adhesion. sharp (30°) point with a distance between the scribed lines of
approximately ten times the nominal coating thickness, with a
9.3 Dif
Diffus
fusion
ion and sub
subseq
sequen
uentt allo
alloyin
ying
g of met
metals
als may im-
mini
mi nimu
mumm didist
stan
ance
ce of 0.0.4
4 mm
mm.. In scscri
ribi
bing
ng th
thee lin
lines,
es, us
usee
prove the bond strength of electrodeposits. In some cases, a
sufficient pressure to cut through the coating to the substrate in
brittle layer may be created by the materials involved causing
a single stroke. If any portion of coating between the lines
peeling as a result of fracture rather than poor adhesion. This
breaks away from the substrate, the adhesion is inadequate.
woul
wo uld
d no
nott gi
give
ve a co
corr
rrec
ectt in
indi
dica
catio
tion
n of th
thee as
as-p
-plat
lated
ed bo
bond
nd
strength. 13.2 Whe
13.2 When n app
appare
arentl
ntly
y sat
satisf
isfacto
actory
ry adh
adhesio
esionn is ind
indicat
icated,
ed,
apply
app ly a pre
pressu
ssure-
re-sen
sensiti
sitive
ve tap
tape,
e, hav
having
ing an adh
adhesio
esionn bon
bond
d
9.4 Thi
Thiss tes
testt is non
nondes
destru
tructiv
ctivee if the procedure
procedure does not strength of at least 45 g/mm, using firm finger pressure onto a
create unwanted effects on parts. clean grid area. Make sure that any loose coating particles from
scribing do not remain. Shortly thereafter, remove the tape by
10. Impac
Impactt Test
Test seizing a free end and pulling it off rapidly (not jerked) back
10.1 Use a hammer or impact device coupled
-
- coupled with a suitable upon
up on its
itsel
elff as clo
close
se to an an angl
glee of 18
180°
0° as poposs
ssib
ible
le.. Th
Thee
`

adhesion is not adequate if the tape has deposit adhering to it

`
,

backing block to support the article to be tested to deform the

,
,
,
,
`
`

sample. Reproducible results are more easily obtained by the

`
,
,
`
that comes from the area between the scribed lines. Deposit
,

continuous to the scribed lines is not considered.

,
,

use of a sui
`
`
,
,
suitab
tably
ly mod
modifie
ified
d imp
impact
act tester where
where the force
force is
13.2.1
13.2. supplier4 shall specify that their tape has a
1 The tape supplier
,
`

reproducible and the impact head contour is in the form of a

,
`
`
,
`

5-mm
5-mm di
`
`

diam
,
-
`amete
eterr ba
ball,
ll, sh
shoc
ock
k lo
load
aded
ed by a fafalli
lling
ng we
weig
ight
ht or suffficie
suf icient
nt adh
adhesi
esion
on bon
bondd str
streng
ength.
th. The tap
tapee sha
shall
ll be widwidee
-

enough to cover three or more parallel lines of the scribed area.

`
,

swinging pendulum weight. The severity of the test may be

,
`
,
,
`
,

altered by changing the load and diameter of the ball. Exfolia-

`
,
,
`
-
-
13.3 Generally, thick deposits are not
not suitable for evaluation
-

tion or blis
blister
terss in and around
around ind
indent
entatio
ations
ns are evi
eviden
dence
ce of unless a chisel or other sharp instrument is used to pry the
inadequate adhesion. exposed coating/substrate interface, in which case this tech-
nique becomes a variant of Section 5.
10.2 This test is sometimes difficult
difficult to interp
interpret.
ret. Soft and
ductile coatings are generally not suited for evaluation.
14. Test-Coating Systems

11. Peel Test

Test 14.1 Recomm
Recommended
ended adhesion
adhesion tests for a variety of coatin
coating
g
systems are given in Table 1.
1.
11.1 Bon
Bond d a str
strip
ip of stee
steell or brass
brass abo
about
ut 1.5 mm thic
thick
k and
20 mm wide by solder or suitable adhesive to a properly flat 15. Pre
Precisi
cision
on and Bias
area of the coated surface of the article. Adhesive-backed tape
15.1 No statement
statement is made about the precision and bias of
may be considered as a possible alternative. Heat curing of the
these tests because of their qualitative nature.
adhesive may be used, keeping in mind considerations noted in
9.3.. Th
9.3 Thee anangl
glee of pupull
ll sh
shal
alll be 90
90°° to ththee su
surf
rfac
ace.
e. Fo
Forr
reproducible results, the rate of pull, the thickness and width of
3
Saubestre, E. B., Durney, L. J., Hajdu, J., and Bastenbeck, E., Plating, Vol 52,
the strip, and deposit thickness must be standardized. Failure in
October 1965, pp. 982–1000.
the coatin
coating/sub
g/substrate
strate interface is eviden
evidence
ce of inadequate adhe- 4
Permacel 99, a product of and manufactured by Permacel, New Brunswick, NJ
sion. 08903, is reported to be a suitable product for this purpose.

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 B571 − 97 (2013)

16. Keyw
Keywords
ords
16.1 adhesi
adhesion;
on; metallic coatings

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