Designation

This standard is issued under the fixed designation B488; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript epsilon (ε) 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. Scope

1.1

This specification covers requirements for electrodeposited gold coatings that contain not less than 99.00 mass % gold and that are used for engineering applications.

1.2

Specifically excluded from this specification are autocatalytic, immersion, and vapor deposited gold coatings.

1.3

Gold coatings conforming to this specification are employed for their corrosion and tarnish resistance (including resistance to fretting corrosion and catalytic polymerization), bondability, low and stable contact resistance, solderability, and infrared reflectivity. Several types of coatings, differing in gold purity and hardness, are covered by this specification.

1.4

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Values provided in parentheses are for information only.

1.5

The following hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods section, Section 9, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

2. Referenced Documents

2.1

2.2

2.3

3. Terminology

3.2

4. Classification

4.1

4.2

4.3

5. Ordering Information

5.1

6. Manufacture

6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

7. Coating Requirements

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

8. Sampling

8.1

8.2

9. Test Methods

9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7

10. Special Government Requirements

10.1

11. Keywords

11.1

ASTM B488 - 18(2025)

Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Gold for Engineering Uses

Current

Published:

13 Jun 2025