Passivation Validity Tests (ASTM-A-967)

1. Practice A-Water Immersion Test

 This test is used for the detection of free iron or any other anodic surface contaminants on
stainless steel.

Procedure Time Drying Cycle Result

Time Repetition

Immerse the sample 1 hour In air for 1 12 times Tested sample shall
in a non-rusting tank hour not exhibit rust or
of distilled water. staining

2. Practice B-High Humidity Test

 This test is used for the detection of free iron or any other anodic surface contaminants on
stainless steel.
 The test shall be performed using a humidity cabinet capable of maintaining the specified
test conditions.

Procedure Humidity Temperature Time Result

% °C

Clean the Sample by

immersing in acetone or
methyl alcohol or by
swabbing with a clean
gauze saturated with
acetone or methyl
alcohol

Dry the sample in an The tested sample

inert atmosphere or shall not exhibit
desiccated container rust or staining

Dried sample shall

enclose in the humidity 97 ± 3 38 ± 3 24 hours
cabinet

3. Practice C--Salt Spray Test

 The sample representing the lot of passivated parts shall be tested by the salt spray
test conducted in accordance with Practice B 117 ( Didn’t find the free file of Practice
B 117 on Google) for a minimum of 2 h using a 5 % salt solution.
 The tested sample shall not exhibit rust or staining attributable to the presence of
free iron particles imbedded in the surface.

4. Practice D--Copper Sulfate Test

 Passivation Validity Tests (ASTM-A-967)
 This test is recommended for the detection of free iron on the surface of stainless
steels in the 200 and 300 series, precipitation hardened stainless steels, and ferritic 400
series stainless steels having a minimum of 16 % chromium.
 This test is not recommended for martensitic 400 series stainless steels or for
ferritic 400 series stainless steels with less than 16 % chromium because these steels
will give a positive indication irrespective of the presence or absence of anodic
surface contaminants.
 This test shall not be applied to parts to be used in food processing.

Solution Composition

Copper sulfate pentahydrate 4g

(CuS04·5H20)

Distilled water 250 mL

Sulfuric acid (H2S04, sp gr 1 mL

1.84)

Procedure Time Result

Clean the Sample by immersing in

acetone or methyl alcohol or by
swabbing with a clean gauze
saturated with acetone or The tested sample
methyl alcohol shall not exhibit
Copper deposits

Immerse the cleaned sample into 6 min

the solution

5. Practice E---Potassium Ferricyanide-Nitric Acid Test

 This test is recommended when detection of very small amounts of free iron is
required. It is recommended for detection of free iron on austenitic 200 and 300
series stainless steels.
 The test solution is prepared by adding 10 g of chemically pure potassium
Ferricyanide to 500 mL of distilled water, adding 30 mL of 70 % nitric acid, agitating
until all of the Ferricyanide is dissolved, and diluting to 1000 mL with distilled
water. The test solution shall be mixed fresh on the day of the test.

Procedure Result Negative Result Positive

Result

Chemically pure 10 g
potassium Ferricyanide
 Passivation Validity Tests (ASTM-A-967)

Distilled water 500 mL

Add 30 mL of 70 % nitric acid

The tested When the test When the test

Agitate until all of the Ferricyanide is sample shall is negative, is positive, the
dissolved. not exhibit the surface dark blue
the dark shall be stain shall be
blue color thoroughly removed with
Diluting to 1000 mL with distilled water indicative washed with a solution of
of free iron warm water to 10 % acetic
on the removal all acid and 8 %
The test solution shall be mixed fresh on the surface traces of the oxalic acid,
day of the test. test solution. followed by a
thorough hot
water rinse.
Swab the test solution on the surface of the
passivated part

The formation of a dark blue color within

30 s denotes the presence of metallic iron.

6. Practice F-Free Iron Test

 This test is used for the detection of free iron on the surface of stainless steel. It is especial1y
useful for large parts that have been uniformly cleaned but that are inconvenient for reasons
of size of equipment or ease of handling of the part to place in the environments defined in
Practice A or Practice B .

Procedure Temperature Time Area Result

Place a clean cloth pad t 50°F (10°) or Not less than

thoroughly soaked with distilled greater 60 mins
water on the surface of the part

The cloth shall be in contact with 20 square

the steel inches The tested
part shall not
exhibit rust
The cloth shall be maintained wet through the test period or staining

The cloth pad used shall be used for only one such test

After removal of the cloth pad, the surface of the part shall be allowed to dry in
air before inspection.