Designation: A 879/A 879M – 06

Standard Specification for

Steel Sheet, Zinc Coated by the Electrolytic Process for
Applications Requiring Designation of the Coating Mass on
Each Surface1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 879/A 879M; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This specification covers zinc coatings applied by the 2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
electrolytic process to hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet. A 90/A 90M Test Method for Weight [Mass] of Coating on
The coating has a smooth, spangle-free surface. The zinc- Iron and Steel Articles with Zinc or Zinc-Alloy Coatings
coated sheet covered in this specification is produced in a wide A 754/A 754M Test Method for Coating Weight (Mass) of
range of coating masses to provide coatings that are compatible Metallic Coatings on Steel by X-Ray Fluorescence
with the anticipated service life required. The coating mass A 917 Specification for Steel Sheet, Coated by the Electro-
varies, from very thin coatings that are usually painted to lytic Process for Applications Requiring Designation of the
provide good service, to relatively heavy masses that provide Coating Mass on Each Surface (General Requirements)
good corrosion resistance in the bare (unpainted) condition. A 1008/A 1008M Specification for Steel, Sheet, Cold-
1.2 The product shall be coated on one or both surfaces with Rolled, Carbon, Structural, High-Strength Low-Alloy,
equal or differential coating masses on the two surfaces. Sheet High-Strength Low-Alloy with Improved Formability, So-
coated with equal coating masses on each surface has similar lution Hardened, and Bake Hardenable
levels of corrosion protection on each surface. Often, however, A 1011/A 1011M Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip,
a higher level of corrosion protection is required on one surface Hot-Rolled, Carbon, Structural, High-Strength Low-Alloy,
than is required on the other. Thus one surface is specified to High-Strength Low-Alloy with Improved Formability, and
have a heavier coating mass than the other. Either surface, Ultra-High Strength
when specified to be painted will provide additional corrosion B 504 Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Me-
protection as compared to an unpainted surface. tallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method
1.3 This coating process has essentially no effect on the base
metal mechanical properties and use is permitted on any grade 3. Classification
of hot- or cold-rolled steel sheet. The coated sheet is available 3.1 Coating shall be designated in accordance with Speci-
as Commercial Steel (CS), Drawing Steel (DS), Deep Drawing fication A 917. The letter G shall be used to designate SI units
Steel (DDS), Extra-Deep Drawing Steel (EDDS), Structural of pure zinc coatings. The letter Z shall be used to designate
Steel (SS), High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel (HSLAS), High- inch-pound units of pure zinc coating.
Strength Low-Alloy Steel with Improved Formability
(HSLAS-F), Solution-Hardened Steel (SHS), or Bake- 4. Ordering Information
Hardenable Steel (BHS), see Specifications A 1008/A 1008M 4.1 Orders for products to this specification shall include the
and A 1011/A 1011M. following information, as necessary to adequately describe the
1.4 The values stated in either SI or inch-pound units are to desired product:
be regarded separately as the standard. Within the text, the SI 4.1.1 Name of product (electrolytic zinc-coated steel sheet).
units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system 4.1.2 ASTM designation and year of issue.
are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used 4.1.3 Base metal type (hot rolled or cold rolled).
independently of the other. 4.1.4 Base metal designation (Commercial Steel (CS),
Drawing Steel (DS), Deep Drawing Steel (DDS), Extra Deep
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A05 on
2
Metallic-Coated Iron and Steel Products and is the direct responsibility of For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Subcommittee A05.11 on Sheet Specifications. contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2006. Published December 2006. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as A 879/A 879M - 04. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM--``,``,``,,````,,``,`,,,,,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 879/A 879M – 06
TABLE 1 Coating Weight and Mass per Surface,A for Steel Sheet, Zinc Coated by the Electrolytic ProcessB
Inch-Pound Units, oz/ft2 SI Units, g/m2
C C
Coating Designation Minimum Maximum Coating Designation Minimum Maximum
00Z no coating no coating 00G no coating no coating
01ZD 0.01 0.05 03GD 3 15
02ZE 0.02 0.08 06GE 6 25
04ZF 0.04 0.10 12GF 12 30
07Z 0.07 0.13 20G 20 40
08ZG 0.08 0.16 24GG 24 45
13Z 0.13 0.23 40G 40 70
20Z 0.20 0.30 60G 60 90
23Z 0.23 0.36 70G 70 110
30Z 0.30 0.43 90G 90 130
32Z 0.32 0.46 98G 98 140
A
Conversion for coating weight and mass are: 1 oz/ft2 = 305.15 g/m2 and 1 g/m2 = 0.00328 oz/ft2.
B
The product shall be coated on at least one surface; therefore, the combination 00Z/00Z or 00G/00G shall not be specified.
C
See Specification A 917.
D
Formally Flash Coating
E
Formally Intermediate Coating
F
Formally Full Coating
G
Formally Double Coating

Drawing Steel (EDDS), Structural Steel (SS), High-Strength during the initial stripping, coating mass can be determined for
Low-Alloy Steel (HSLAS), High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel each surface independently. Conversion of the coating mass to
with Improved Formability (HSLAS-F), Solution-Hardened coating thickness is possible only if the density of the coating
Steel (SHS), or Bake-Hardenable Steel (BHS). is known precisely.

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4.1.5 Formability type, strength, grade or class, or combi- 5.2.2 Coating thickness measurements by X-ray fluores-
nation, thereof, as required for structural or high-strength cence (see Test Method A 754) is a nondestructive test that
low-alloy steels. determines coating mass by converting X-ray fluorescence
4.1.6 Coating designation (see 3.1). measurements to coating mass values. This method is readily
4.1.7 Surface treatments required (see Note 1). adaptable to the continuous monitoring of coating mass during
NOTE 1—Steel sheet is available without surface treatment (dry) or with coating. Thus modern electroplating facilities are frequently
surface treatments designated as chemical treatment, oiled, or phos- equipped with X-ray fluorescence gages that provide feedback
phatized. Unless otherwise specified sheet is furnished oiled. to control the coating mass. These devices may be used as a
4.1.8 Dimensions [show thickness (minimum or nominal), basis for determining suitability for shipment provided that
width, and length, if cut length]. they have been calibrated properly.
4.1.9 Coil size requirements (specify maximum outside 5.2.3 Measurement by Coulometric Method (see Test
diameter (OD), acceptable inside diameter (ID), and maximum Method B 504) is a destructive test that determines lighter
weight (mass)). coating mass applications.
4.1.10 Application (part name and description). 5.3 The referee method to be used shall be as agreed upon
4.1.11 Special Requirements, is applicable. between the producer and the consumer. In the absence of such
4.1.12 Certification, if required, heat analysis and mechani- agreement, Test Method A 90/A 90M shall be used as the
cal property report. referee method.
5.3.1 Estimate the coating thickness from the coating
5. Coating Mass
weight (mass) by using the following relationships:
5.1 Coating mass shall conform to the requirements for 5.3.1.1 Inch-Pound Units—1 oz/ft2 coating weight = 1.7
coating designation (mass and type) as given in Specification mils coating thickness (0.0017 in.); 1 mil (0.001 in.) coating
A 917 and in Table 1 for the specific coating designation. The thickness = 0.59 oz/ft2 coating weight.
mass of the coating is the single spot value on each surface of
5.3.1.2 SI Units—1 g/m2 coating mass = 0.14 micro-metre
the sheet in grams per square metre for G coatings and ounces
coating thickness; 1 micro-metre coating thickness = 7.14 g/m2
per square foot for Z coatings.
coating mass.
5.2 Coating Mass Tests:
5.2.1 The weigh-strip-weigh method (see Test Method
A 90/A 90M) is a destructive test that determines coating mass 6. Keywords
by measuring the difference in weight between a coated and a 6.1 electrolytic zinc coated; steel sheet, zinc coated; zinc
stripped (uncoated) sample. If one surface is protected suitably coated; zinc coated steel sheet

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 A 879/A 879M – 06
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A05 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(A 879/A 879M - 04) that may impact the use of this standard. (November 1, 2006)

(1) Revised 1.3, 2.1, and 4.1.4 to include Solution-Hardened

Steel (SHS) and Bake-Hardenable Steel (BHS) designations.

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