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IS 4994 : 1996Electroplated Coatings of Zinc on Iron and Steel - Specification

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ISO 2081 · ASTM B633 · BS EN ISO 2081
CurrentSpecializedSpecificationMaterials Science · Aluminium and Non-Ferrous Metals
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Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
OverviewValues5InternationalTablesFAQ3Related

IS 4994:1996 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for electroplated coatings of zinc on iron and steel - specification. This standard specifies the requirements for electroplated zinc coatings applied to iron and steel to provide protection against corrosion. It classifies coatings based on thickness and service conditions, and outlines necessary pre-treatments, post-treatments (like hydrogen embrittlement relief and chromate conversion), and testing procedures.

Specifies the requirements for electroplated zinc coatings on iron and steel articles for corrosion protection.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Aluminium and Non-Ferrous Metals
Type
Specification
International equivalents
ISO 2081:2018 · International Organization for Standardization (ISO), InternationalASTM B633-19 · ASTM International, USABS EN ISO 2081:2018 · British Standards Institution (BSI), United KingdomJIS H 8610:2017 · Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), Japan
Typically used with
IS 9844IS 101
Also on InfraLens for IS 4994
5Key values2Tables3FAQs
Practical Notes
! High-strength steel fasteners (tensile strength > 1000 MPa) must be baked to relieve hydrogen embrittlement shortly after plating to prevent brittle failure.
! In salt spray tests, the appearance of white rust indicates the failure of the chromate passivation layer, whereas red rust indicates the failure of the underlying zinc coating and corrosion of the base steel.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 4Classification of CoatingsCl. 5Heat Treatment for High Tensile SteelCl. 6Requirements (Thickness, Adhesion, Corrosion Resistance)Cl. 7Chromate Conversion Coatings
Pulled from IS 4994:1996. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
zincironsteelelectroplatingchromate passivation

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
ISO 2081:2018International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
HighCurrent
Metallic and other inorganic coatings — Electroplated coatings of zinc with supplementary treatments on iron or steel
Specifies requirements for electroplated zinc coatings on iron or steel, including post-treatments and thickness classes.
ASTM B633-19ASTM International, USA
HighCurrent
Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Zinc on Iron and Steel
Defines requirements for electrodeposited zinc coatings based on service condition (thickness) and post-treatment type.
BS EN ISO 2081:2018British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Metallic and other inorganic coatings. Electroplated coatings of zinc with supplementary treatments on iron or steel
The UK's national adoption of ISO 2081, making it functionally identical to the ISO standard.
JIS H 8610:2017Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), Japan
MediumCurrent
Electroplated coatings of zinc on iron or steel
Covers electroplated zinc on iron/steel but uses a different classification system (Ep-Fe/Zn) and testing framework.
Key Differences
≠IS 4994:1996 focuses on traditional hexavalent chromate (Cr6+) passivation. Modern standards like ISO 2081 and ASTM B633 provide detailed classifications for environmentally friendly Cr6+-free (trivalent) passivates, which are now industry standard.
≠IS 4994 uses a simple designation (e.g., Fe/Zn 25). ISO 2081 uses a more detailed coding system that specifies the substrate, coating, thickness, and the exact type of supplementary treatment (e.g., ISO 2081–Fe/Zn 12/A for trivalent clear passivate).
≠Modern standards (ISO 2081, ASTM B633) have more stringent and explicit requirements for hydrogen embrittlement relief baking for high-strength steels (UTS ≥ 1000 MPa), often making it a mandatory step with defined time/temperature, whereas IS 4994 is more general in its recommendation.
≠ISO 2081 and ASTM B633 specify thickness as 'minimum local thickness', measured over a small, defined reference area. IS 4994:1996 is less specific, referring to minimum thickness which could be interpreted as local or average depending on the test method cited.
Key Similarities
≈All standards are specifically for electrodeposited zinc coatings on iron and steel substrates, excluding other application methods like mechanical or hot-dip galvanizing.
≈The fundamental thickness classes are highly comparable. The IS 4994 classes for 25, 12, 8, and 5 µm directly correlate with the service conditions (SC4, SC3, SC2, SC1) in ASTM B633 and are common grades in ISO 2081.
≈The primary method specified for evaluating the corrosion resistance of the coating system (zinc layer + passivation) in all standards is the Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) test.
≈All standards mandate good adhesion of the coating to the substrate and describe similar qualitative test methods like bend, heat-quench, or burnishing tests to verify it.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Highest Thickness Grade (Severe Service)Class 1 (Fe/Zn 25) - 25 µm minimumService Condition 4 (SC 4) - 25 µm minimumASTM B633-19
Moderate Service ThicknessClass 2 (Fe/Zn 12) - 12 µm minimumCode 12 (Zn 12) - 12 µm minimum local thicknessISO 2081:2018
Mild Service ThicknessClass 4 (Fe/Zn 5) - 5 µm minimumService Condition 1 (SC 1) - 5 µm minimumASTM B633-19
Corrosion Test MethodNeutral Salt Spray Test (as per IS 5527 & IS 6013)Neutral Salt Spray (NSS) Test (as per ISO 9227)ISO 2081:2018
Legacy Passivation (Cr6+)Specifies 'Chromate conversion coatings'.Type II (Coloured chromate), Type III (Clear chromate)ASTM B633-19
Modern Passivation (Cr6+-free)Not defined in the 1996 version.Types A, B, C, D, E, F specifying different trivalent passivates and sealants.ISO 2081:2018
Hydrogen Embrittlement ReliefHeat treatment at 190-220°C for 2-4 hours is recommended for hardened parts.Baking at 190-220°C for a minimum of 4 hours is mandatory for parts with UTS ≥ 1000 MPa.ISO 2081:2018
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values5

Quick Reference Values
mild service condition thickness5 microns (Fe/Zn 5)
moderate service condition thickness8 microns (Fe/Zn 8)
severe service condition thickness12 microns (Fe/Zn 12)
exceptionally severe condition thickness25 microns (Fe/Zn 25)
high tensile steel baking temp190°C to 220°C

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Coating Thickness Requirements for Different Service Conditions
Table 2 - Corrosion Resistance in Salt Spray Test
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Classification of Coatings
Clause 5 - Heat Treatment for High Tensile Steel
Clause 6 - Requirements (Thickness, Adhesion, Corrosion Resistance)
Clause 7 - Chromate Conversion Coatings

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 9844:2006Ready-Mixed Concrete — Code of Practice
→
IS 101:1986Methods of sampling and test for paints, varn...
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Frequently Asked Questions3

What does a designation like Fe/Zn 12 mean?+
It indicates an electroplated zinc coating on an iron or steel base metal with a minimum local thickness of 12 microns.
Is post-plating baking required for all steel parts?+
No, it is specifically required for high-strength or highly stressed steel parts to prevent hydrogen embrittlement.
Why is chromate treatment applied after zinc plating?+
To passivate the zinc surface, which significantly delays the onset of white rust and increases overall corrosion resistance.

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