ASTM B700 Silver Plating Standard

When ASTM B700 appears on a drawing or purchase order, the margin for supplier error is zero. Parts plated outside the specified type, grade, or class can fail incoming inspection, delay shipments, and compromise reliability in aerospace, defense, and electronic assemblies where contact resistance, solderability, and signal integrity are non-negotiable. Accurate Precision Plating delivers ASTM B700 silver plating with the process controls, substrate expertise, and documentation engineers need to get compliant parts back on schedule.

What is ASTM B700?

ASTM B700 is the standard silver plating specification published by ASTM International covering electrodeposited coatings of silver for engineering use. The specification defines requirements for silver purity, surface appearance, supplementary surface treatment, and coating thickness, and it is typically referenced on prints for solderable surfaces, electrical contacts, high-current bus structures, and components requiring high electrical and thermal conductivity.

Accurate Precision Plating specializes in industrial precision metal plating services across a wide range of industries and applications. We silver plate to the ASTM B700 and QQ-S-365C silver plating standards across all three purity types and the bright and semi-bright grades most commonly specified for engineering components.

 

ASTM B700 Types, Grades, and Classes

ASTM B700 classifies every electrodeposited silver coating by Type (purity), Grade (surface appearance), and Class (supplementary treatment). Reading these correctly off a print is the first step in qualifying a supplier:

  • Type I: 99.9% minimum silver purity
  • Type II: 99.0% minimum silver purity
  • Type III: 98.0% minimum silver purity
  • Grade B: Bright, produced with brighteners in the plating bath
  • Grade C: Bright, produced by mechanical or chemical polishing
  • Grade D: Semi-bright

Accurate Precision Plating silver plates all mediums to ASTM B700 and QQ-S-365C in Types I, II, and III, and Grades B, C, and D. Our process controls, including non-destructive thickness verification with Fischerscope X-Ray equipment, confirm every deposit meets the type, grade, and thickness called out on your print before parts leave the shop.

Why Engineers Specify an Electrodeposited Silver Coating

Silver is specified when electrical, thermal, and RF performance cannot be compromised. An electrodeposited silver coating delivers the highest electrical conductivity of any metal, reducing insertion loss in connectors, lowering I2R heating in high-current contacts, and improving signal integrity in RF and microwave circuits.

Key performance properties driving silver selection include:

  • Excellent solderability for PCB assembly and electronic components, with shelf life extended by Class S or Class T anti-tarnish treatment
  • Low, stable contact resistance across temperature cycles, critical for separable and sliding electrical contacts
  • Natural lubricity reducing wear in mated connector interfaces and threaded assemblies
  • Superior RF and microwave performance driven by the skin effect, where high-frequency current travels through the silver surface rather than the base metal

For a broader overview of APP's capabilities, visit our silver plating service page.

Industries That Specify ASTM B700 Silver Plating

ASTM B700 silver plating is specified wherever electrical and electronic performance drives product reliability. APP supports buyers and engineers in:

  • Aerospace and defense electronics, including connectors, waveguides, and shielding components
  • Military and defense programs requiring silver plating to MIL-DTL-45204 or cross-referenced specs
  • RF, microwave, and antenna manufacturing, where surface conductivity drives signal efficiency
  • PCB assembly and connector finishing where reliable solderability is required
  • Medical device manufacturing for high-reliability electrical interconnects
  • High-current electrical equipment including bus bars, switchgear, circuit breakers, and power distribution connectors

Related Silver Plating Specification References

ASTM B700 is closely aligned with several related standards that appear on engineering drawings across aerospace and defense supply chains. APP plates to each of these specifications under our certifications and standards program:

  • QQ-S-365C, the federal silver plating spec, structurally similar to ASTM B700 in its use of types and grades
  • AMS 2410, aerospace silver plating with nickel strike
  • AMS 2411, aerospace silver plating with copper strike
  • AMS 2412, aerospace silver plating on threaded fasteners and hardware

Request a Quote for ASTM B700 Silver Plating

If ASTM B700 is on your drawing or purchase order, Accurate Precision Plating is ready to quote. Send your print, part specifications, and quantity through our request a quote form, or contact us to discuss plating stack options, lead times, and documentation for your next production run.

Contact Accurate Precision Plating
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