AMS2410™ REV.

L
AEROSPACE
MATERIAL SPECIFICATION Issued 1945-08
Revised 2018-07

Superseding AMS2410K

Plating, Silver
Nickel Strike, High Bake

RATIONALE

AMS2410L results from a Five-Year Review and update of this specification with changes to Ordering Information, 3.4.1
and 3.4.1.1 Thickness, 4.2.1 Acceptance Tests, 4.2.2 Perdoic Tests, Table 1 Sampling for acceptance tests, 4.3.1.1
Acceptance Tests, 4.3.2 Periodic Tests, 4.3.3.2 Sample Configuration, and 4.4.3 control factors.

NOTICE

ORDERING INFORMATION: The following information shall be provided to the plating processor by the purchaser.

1) Purchase order shall specify not less than the following:

• AMS2410L

• Pre-plate stress relief to be performed by plating processor (time and temperature) if different from 3.1.1

• Plating thickness desired (3.4.1)

• Basis metal to be plated

• Tensile strength or hardness of the basis metal

• Special features, geometry or processing present on parts that requires special attention by the plating processor

• Optional: Periodic testing frequency (4.2.2) and sample quantity (4.3.2)

• Quantity of pieces to be plated

• If desired, destructive testing for thickness (3.4.1)

2) Parts manufacturing operations such as heat treating, forming, joining and media finishing can affect the condition of
the substrate for plating, or if performed after plating, could adversely affect the plated part. The sequencing of these
types of operations should be specified by the cognizant engineering organization or purchaser and is not controlled by
this specification.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be revised, reaffirmed, stabilized, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and
suggestions.
Copyright © 2018 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER: Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada) SAE values your input. To provide feedback
Tel: +1 724-776-4970 (outside USA) on this Technical Report, please visit
Fax: 724-776-0790 http://standards.sae.org/AMS2410L
Email: [email protected]
SAE WEB ADDRESS: http://www.sae.org
SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 2 of 8
1. SCOPE

1.1 Purpose

This specification covers the requirements for electrodeposited silver on other metals, usually with a nickel strike between
the basis metal and the silver.

1.2 Application

Silver plating has been used typically to provide a bearing surface and to prevent galling or seizing of surfaces of parts
made of corrosion-resistant steels and of parts made of other metals not deleteriously affected by high-temperature baking,
but usage is not limited to such applications. Silver plating is the most commonly used coating for turbine engine fasteners
providing an even degree of lubrication up to a maximum service temperature of about 1200 °F (650 °C).

1.3 Safety-Hazardous Materials

While the materials, methods, applications, and processes described or referenced in this specification may involve the use
of hazardous materials, this specification does not address the hazards that may be involved in such use. It is the sole
responsibility of the user to ensure familiarity with the safe and proper use of any hazardous materials and to take necessary
precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all personnel involved.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The issue of the following documents in effect on the date of the purchase order forms a part of this specification to the
extent specified herein. The supplier may work to a subsequent revision of a document unless a specific document issue is
specified. When the referenced document has been cancelled and no superseding document has been specified, the last
published issue of that document shall apply.

2.1 SAE Publications

Available from SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA
and Canada) or +1 724-776-4970 (outside USA), www.sae.org.

AMS2759/9 Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief (Baking) of Steel Parts

ARP1917 Clarification of Terms Used in Aerospace Metals Specifications

ARP4992 Periodic Test Plan for Processing Solutions

AS2390 Chemical Process Test Specimen Material

2.2 ASTM Publications

Available from ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, Tel: 610-
832-9585, www.astm.org.

ASTM B374 Terminology Relating to Electroplating

ASTM B487 Measurement of Metal and Oxide Coating Thickness by Microscopical Examination of a Cross Section

ASTM B499 Measurement of Coating Thicknesses by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic Coatings on Magnetic Basis
Metals

ASTM B504 Measurement of Thickness of Metallic Coatings by the Coulometric Method

ASTM B568 Measurement of Coating Thickness by X-Ray Spectrometry

SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 3 of 8
ASTM B571 Qualitative Adhesion Testing of Metallic Coatings

ASTM E376 Measuring Coating Thickness by Magnetic-Field or Eddy Current (Electromagnetic) Testing Methods

2.3 ASME Publications

Available from ASME, P.O. Box 2900, 22 Law Drive, Fairfield, NJ 07007-2900, Tel: 800-843-2763 (U.S./Canada), 001-800-
843-2763 (Mexico), 973-882-1170 (outside North America), www.asme.org.

ASME B46.1 Surface Texture (Surface Roughness, Waviness, and Lay)

2.4 NCSL Publications

Available from NCSL International, 2995 Wilderness Place, Suite 107, Boulder, CO 80301, Tel: 303-440-3339,
www.ncsli.org.

ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 U.S. Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Preparation

3.1.1 Stress Relief Treatment

All steel parts having a hardness of 40 HRC and above and which are machined, ground, cold formed or cold straightened
shall be cleaned to remove surface contamination and thermally stress relieved before plating for the relief of residual tensile
stresses. Residual tensile stresses have been found to be damaging during electrofinishing.

3.1.1.1 For parts having a hardness of 55 HRC and above, including carburized and induction hardened parts, stress
relieve at 275 °F ± 25 °F (135 °C ± 14 °C) for a minimum of 5 hours.

3.1.1.2 For parts having a hardness less than 55 HRC, stress relieve at 375 °F ± 25 °F (191 °C ± 14 °C) for a minimum
of 4 hours. Higher temperatures shall be used only when specified or approved by the cognizant engineering
organization.

3.1.1.3 For peened parts: If stress relief temperatures above 375 °F (191 °C) are elected, the stress relief shall be
performed prior to peening or the cognizant engineering organization shall be consulted and shall approve the
stress relief temperature.

3.1.2 The plating shall be applied over a surface free of waterbreaks. The cleaning procedure shall not produce pitting or
intergranular attack of the basis metal and shall preserve dimensional requirements.

3.1.3 Except for barrel plating, electrical contact points shall be as follows. For parts that are to be plated all over, locations
shall be acceptable to the purchaser. For parts that are not to be plated all over, locations shall be on areas on
which plating is not required.

3.2 Procedure

3.2.1 Parts shall be plated in the following sequence except as permitted by 3.2.1.1, 3.2.1.2, or 3.2.1.3:

Nickel strike
Silver strike
Silver plate

3.2.1.1 The nickel strike may be omitted when plating copper and copper alloys.

3.2.1.2 A gold or palladium strike may be used in place of the silver strike when approved by the cognizant engineering
organization.
SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 4 of 8
3.2.1.3 When approved by the cognizant engineering organization, silver may be plated directly onto the substrate without
the use of either the nickel or silver strike.

3.2.2 Parts shall be plated by electrodeposition of silver from a suitable plating bath. Spotting-in or double plating are not
permitted. The use of organic base grain refining and brightener additives shall be prohibited in both the silver strike
and silver plate solutions unless approved by the cognizant engineering organization.

3.3 Post Treatment

3.3.1 Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief

Treatment of steel parts shall be in accordance with AMS2759/9.

3.3.2 Except as specified herein, all parts, except nuts, shall be heated to 935 to 965 °F (502 to 518 °C) after plating,
rinsing, and drying and held at heat for 20 to 60 minutes. Heat up and cool down times should be minimized to
prevent undesirable changes in the coating or substrate, e.g., oxidation or diffusional changes. Dwell times at 400 °F
(204 °C) shall not exceed 7 hours during the heating and cooling thermal cycle. Above 400 °F (204 °C), the heating
and cooling medium shall be a neutral or reducing atmosphere (except that hydrogen shall not be used) or shall be
a neutral or nonoxidizing molten salt bath. If such heating would lower hardness or properties of parts below drawing
limits or otherwise deleteriously affect the parts, heating shall be at the highest practicable temperature that will
maintain specified properties. Heating of nuts is not required. When this thermal treatment starts within four hours
after the parts have been removed from the plating bath, hydrogen embrittlement relief in accordance with 3.3.1 is
not required.

3.4 Properties

The deposited silver shall conform to the following requirements:

3.4.1 Thickness

Thickness of silver shall be as specified on the engineering drawing, determined nondestructively on parts or on test
specimens as in 4.3.3 by a dimensional gaging method or in accordance with ASTM B499, ASTM B504, ASTM B568,
ASTM E376, or other method acceptable to the cognizant engineering organization. If destructive testing is specified, it shall
be determined in accordance with ASTM B487 or other method acceptable to the cognizant engineering organization.

3.4.1.1 Dimensional gauging (micrometers, verniers, pin gages, dial bore gages, height gages, or coordinated measuring
machines, as examples) shall be maintained in accordance with ANSI/NCSL Z540.3. Resolution of the calibrated
measuring instrument used, shall be not less than ten times more precise than the attribute being measured.

3.4.1.2 Where silver flash only is specified, plate thickness shall be approximately 0.0001 inch (2.5 µm).

3.4.1.3 Thickness of plate, other than flash, shall be as specified on the part drawing. If machining of plated metal is
required, plate thickness as deposited shall be sufficient to allow machining of all areas of plated surfaces to the
dimensions specified on the drawing.

3.4.1.4 All surfaces of the part, except those that cannot be touched by a sphere 0.75 inch (19 mm) in diameter, shall be
plated to the specified thickness. Unless otherwise specified, surfaces such as holes, recesses, threads, and
other areas where a controlled deposit cannot be obtained under normal plating conditions, may be under the
specified limit provided they show visual evidence of plating coverage.

3.4.2 Composition

Silver, as plated, shall be not less than 99.9% pure, determined by a method acceptable to the cognizant engineering
organization. The plating process and solution chemistry shall be controlled to ensure the required purity.

3.4.3 Adhesion

Both nondestructive and destructive tests shall be performed.

SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 5 of 8
3.4.3.1 Visual Test

Plated metal shall be firmly and continuously bonded to the underlying metal. Plating, after heating in accordance with in
3.3, shall show no evidence of blisters or other indications of poor bond.

3.4.3.2 Destructive Chisel-Knife Test

Adhesion on parts, other than nuts, after heating as in 3.3, shall meet the requirements of ASTM B571 chisel-knife test.

3.4.3.3 Destructive Scratch Test

Nuts shall show no peeling of the silver when scratched using the knife option of the Chisel-Knife test in accordance with
ASTM B571.

3.5 Quality

Plating as received by the customer shall be smooth, continuous, free from delamination within the plating, uniform in
appearance and free from imperfections detrimental to usage of the plating. Plating shall be visually free from frosty areas,
pin holes, porosity, blisters, nodules, and pits. Slight staining or discoloration is permissible after plating and during storage.

3.5.1 Abrasion of plating on corners and edges of nuts is acceptable, but plating shall be continuous on the threads.
Marking or marring of the cone section of self-locking nuts, produced in offsetting the locking beams or other locking
feature, is acceptable.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

4.1 Responsibility for Inspection

The processor shall supply all samples for processor's tests and shall be responsible for the performance of all required
tests. When parts are to be tested, the parts shall be supplied by the purchaser. The cognizant engineering organization
reserves the right to sample and to perform any confirmatory testing deemed necessary to ensure that processing conforms
to the specified requirements.

4.2 Classification of Tests

4.2.1 Acceptance Tests

Thickness (3.4.1), and quality (3.5) are acceptance tests and shall be performed on parts, or specimens representing parts
when permitted herein, from each lot (see 4.3.3).

4.2.2 Periodic Tests

Composition (3.4.2) is a periodic test and shall be performed at least quarterly unless frequency of testing is specified by
the cognizant engineering organization. Tests of cleaning and plating solutions are periodic tests and shall be performed at
a frequency established by the processor unless frequency of testing is specified by the cognizant engineering organization
(see 4.4.3 and 8.3). Adhesion (3.4.4) is a periodic test that shall be performed no less than daily for each generic class of
alloy as defined by AS2390 processed during that day. Note: If both “nuts” and “parts other than nuts” are processed
during the same day, two separate adhesion tests will be required as per 3.4.3.2 and 3.4.3.3. If the basis material of both
“nuts” and “parts other than nuts” are similar as based upon AS2390, the same test specimens may be used for both tests
listed in 3.4.2.2 and 3.4.2.3.

4.2.3 Preproduction Tests

All property verification tests (see 3.4) are preproduction tests and shall be performed prior to or on the first-article shipment
of plated parts to a purchaser and when the cognizant engineering organization requires confirmatory testing.
SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 6 of 8
4.3 Sampling for Testing

4.3.1 Acceptance Tests

Acceptance test samples shall be randomly selected from all parts in the lot. A lot shall be all parts of the same part number,
processed in a continuous series of operations (3.1 through 3.3), in not longer than 24 consecutive hours, and presented
for processor’s inspection at one time. Unless the cognizant engineering organization provides a sampling plan, the
minimum number of samples shall be as shown in Table 1.

Table 1 - Sampling for acceptance tests

Visual for
Adhesion,
Number of Coverage, and Thickness Thickness
Parts in Lot Quality (Non-Destructive) (Destructive)
Up to 7 All All 0
8 to 15 7 3 0
16 to 40 10 4 0
41 to 150 15 5 1
151 to 300 25 6 1
301 to 500 35 7 1
Over 500 50 8 2

4.3.1.1 When a statistical sampling plan has been agreed upon by purchaser and processor, sampling shall be in
accordance with such plan in lieu of sampling as in 4.3.1 and the report of 4.5 shall state that such plan was used.

4.3.2 Periodic Tests

One sample shall be used for composition (3.4.2) unless otherwise specified by the cognizant engineering organization. For
adhesion tests, four test specimens of each generic class of alloy, as defined by AS2390, that have been be processed
through the same cleaning and plating operations as the parts that they represent. These adhesion test specimens shall be
processed prior to the first production lot of parts or with the first production lot of parts.

4.3.3 Sample Configuration

4.3.3.1 Separate test specimens may be used under any one of the following circumstances: The plated parts are of
such configuration or size as to be not readily adaptable to specified tests, nondestructive testing is not practical
on actual parts, or it is not economically acceptable to perform destructive tests on actual parts. Except as
specified below, acceptance test specimens shall be made of the same generic class of alloy as the parts,
established in accordance with AS2390, distributed within the lot, cleaned, plated, and post treated with the parts
represented.

4.3.3.2 Thickness test specimens shall be 0.032-0.064 x 4 x 1 inch (0.8-1.6 x 102 x 25 mm). For thickness tests, bars
approximately 0.5 inch (13 mm) in diameter and 4 inches (102 mm) long may be used. Because thickness may
differ from parts on specimens, correlation with actual parts shall be established. Test specimens for adhesion
testing shall be made of the same generic class of alloy as defined by AS2390 processed. The test specimens
shall be 0.025 inch (0.6 mm) minimum thickness and not less than 1 x 4 inches (25 x 102 mm).

4.4 Approval

4.4.1 The process and control procedures, a preproduction sample plated part, or both, whichever is specified, shall be
approved by the cognizant engineering organization before production parts are supplied.
SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 7 of 8
4.4.2 The processor shall make no significant change to materials, processes, or controls from those on which the
approval was based, unless the change is approved by the cognizant engineering organization. A significant change
is one that, in the judgement of the cognizant engineering organization, could affect the properties or performance
of the part.

4.4.3 Control factors shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Method of cleaning
Rack locations
Strike bath composition and composition limits
Strike and plating parameters (current density, bath temperature)
Test method and frequency of testing for bath compositions
Method of thickness determination
Periodic test for cleaning and processing solutions (see 8.3)

4.5 Reports

The processor of plated parts shall furnish with each shipment a report stating that the parts have been processed and
tested in accordance with the specified requirements and that they conform to the acceptance test requirements. This report
shall include the purchase order number, lot number, AMS2410L, part number, and quantity.

4.6 Resampling and Retesting

4.6.1 If any acceptance test fails to meet specified requirements, parts in that lot may be stripped, pretreated, plated,
post-treated as defined herein and tested. Alternatively, all parts in the lot may be inspected for the nonconforming
attribute, and the nonconforming parts may be stripped, pretreated, plated, post-treated as defined herein and
tested. After stripping and replating, parts shall meet the dimensions of the drawing.

4.6.1.1 When stripping is performed, the method shall be acceptable to the cognizant engineering organization and shall
not roughen, pit, or embrittle the basis metal or adversely affect part dimensions. When parts have been stripped
and replated, the purchaser shall be informed.

4.6.2 If any periodic test fails to meet specified requirements, the process is nonconforming. No additional parts shall be
plated until the process is corrected and new specimens are plated and tested. Purchaser shall be notified of all
parts plated since the last acceptable test.

5. PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY

5.1 Plated parts shall be handled and packaged in such a manner as will ensure that the required physical characteristics
and properties of the plate are preserved (see 8.5).

5.2 Packages of plated parts shall be prepared for shipment in accordance with commercial practice and in compliance
with applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the handling, packaging, and transportation of the plated parts to
ensure carrier acceptance and safe delivery.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Processor shall mention this specification number and its revision letter in all quotations and when acknowledging purchase
orders.

7. REJECTIONS

Parts on which plating does not conform to this specification, or to modifications authorized by the cognizant engineering
organization, will be subject to rejection.
SAE INTERNATIONAL AMS2410™L Page 8 of 8
8. NOTES

8.1 Revision Indicator

A change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical revisions, not
editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of this document. An (R) symbol to the left of the document title
indicates a complete revision of the document, including technical revisions. Change bars and (R) are not used in original
publications, nor in documents that contain editorial changes only.

8.2 All fabrication-type operations, such as forming, welding, machining, and heat treatment, shall be completed before
parts are plated. Part manufacturing operations, such as heat treatment, forming, joining, and media finishing, can
affect the condition of the substrate for plating, or, if performed after plating, could adversely affect the plating. The
sequencing of these operations should be specified by the cognizant engineering organization and is not controlled
by this specification.

8.3 ARP4992 is recommended to satisfy the requirements for control of processing solutions.

8.4 Prior to cleaning, texture of surfaces on parts to be plated, other than nuts, should not be rougher than 80 µin (2.0
µm) determined in accordance with ASME B46.1.

8.5 Special packaging may be required to prevent discoloration of plate during storage.

8.6 Terms used in AMS are clarified in ARP1917. ASTM B374 should be utilized as a reference and referee document
when areas of design definition or technical interpretation arise.

PREPARED BY AMS COMMITTEE "B"