SAE AMS 2403
Plating, Nickel, General Purpose
Specifies general-purpose electrodeposited nickel and deposit properties for aerospace metal parts.
What SAE AMS 2403 specifies
SAE AMS 2403 is the same SAE document commonly cited without the SAE prefix as AMS 2403. It controls general-purpose nickel electroplating for moderate corrosion and oxidation resistance or dimensional buildup, without imposing the specialized hardness or low-stress requirements of AMS 2423 or AMS 2424. It has no standard thickness classes: the drawing must state thickness, while a nickel flash is approximately 0.0001 in (2.5 µm). Buyers should also state significant surfaces, masking, maximum buildup or final size, approved strike where needed, and stress-relief and hydrogen-embrittlement requirements for high-strength steel.
SAE AMS 2403 types and classes
Every designation the document defines, with the thickness it requires and the tests it imposes.
| Designation | Meaning | Coating weight | Requirement / test |
|---|---|---|---|
Nickel flash | Thin continuous nickel deposit when the drawing states nickel flash. | Approximately 0.0001 in (2.5 µm) thick. | Thickness and adhesion. |
Drawing-specified thickness | Thickness controlled by the engineering drawing or purchase order. | — | Thickness by an approved ASTM method. |
Tests and the drawing call-out
Tests the document imposes
- Thickness by ASTM B487, B499, B504, B568, E376, or approved method
- Adhesion
- Heat resistance
- Corrosion resistance
- Hydrogen-embrittlement evaluation
How to cite it
Drawing call-out
NICKEL PLATE PER SAE AMS 2403, <THICKNESS OR NICKEL FLASH>, <SIGNIFICANT SURFACES>, <EMBRITTLEMENT RELIEF>Angle brackets mark the choices the drawing must make; every finish page shows a completed example.
Finishes specified to SAE AMS 2403
SAE AMS 2403 — frequently asked
Is SAE AMS 2403 different from AMS 2403?
No. The SAE-prefixed and unprefixed forms identify the same document. This record preserves the exact requested designation.
What thickness does AMS 2403 require?
The drawing normally specifies it. Only the term nickel flash carries an approximate value of 0.0001 in, or 2.5 µm.
Is AMS 2403 a low-stress nickel specification?
No. Use the applicable specialized AMS document when controlled hardness or low internal stress is essential.
SAE AMS 2403 is copyrighted by SAE International. This page explains the document so a drawing can be read; it does not reproduce the standard. Purchase the current edition from the publisher. Official source ↗