Designation:B537−70(Reapproved2013)StandardPracticeforRatingofElectroplatedPanelsSubjectedtoAtmosphericExposure1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationB537;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thispracticecoversapreferredmethodforevaluatingtheconditionofelectroplatedtestpanelsthathavebeenexposedtocorrosiveenvironmentsfortestpurposes.Itisbasedonexperienceinuseofthemethodwithstandard10-by15-cm(4-by6-in.)panelsexposedonstandardASTMracksatoutdoortestsitesinnaturalatmospheres.IthasbeenusedalsoforratingsimilarpanelsthathavebeensubjectedtoacceleratedtestssuchasthosecoveredbyPracticeB117,MethodB287,TestMethodB368,andTestMethodB380.Anymodificationsneededtoadaptthemethodtoratingactualproductionpartsarenotconsideredinthispractice.1.2Thispracticerefersonlytodecorative-protectivecoat-ingsthatarecathodictothesubstrate,typifiedbynickel/chromiumorcopper/nickel/chromiumonsteelorzincdiecastings.Itisnotintendedforusewithanodicsacrificialcoatingssuchaszincandcadmiumonsteel.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2B117PracticeforOperatingSaltSpray(Fog)ApparatusB287MethodofAceticAcid-SaltSpray(Fog)Testing(Withdrawn1987)3B368TestMethodforCopper-AcceleratedAceticAcid-SaltSpray(Fog)Testing(CASSTest)B380TestMethodforCorrosionTestingofDecorativeElectrodepositedCoatingsbytheCorrodkoteProcedure2.2ASTMAdjunct:4Dotcharts(9charts,81⁄2by11in.)(9colorphotos,3by5in.)3.BasisofProcedure3.1Theratingmethoddescribedinthisrecommendedpracticeisbasedontherecognitionthattypicaldecorative-protectivedepositssuchasnickel/chromium,withorwithoutacopperundercoat,havetwofunctions:(1)toprotectthesubstratefromcorrosionandthuspreventdegradationofappearancecausedbybasismetalcorrosionproducts(forexample,rustandruststain);and(2)toitselfmaintainasatisfactoryappearance.Althoughthesefunction...
