Material
Specification GM6180M
Metals
Surface Condition Requirements – Steel and Aluminum Sheet
1 Scope
This standard covers the surface condition require-
ments for aluminum and steel sheet normally used
for automobile and truck bodies. This standard does
not include any other requirements normally specified
in GMNA or GMW specifications for aluminum, cold
rolled steel, or hot rolled steel.
1.1 Material Description. Subparagraphs were not
applicable.
1.2 Cross-Reference of Replaced Specifications.
Subparagraphs were not applicable.
1.3 Symbol. Not applicable.
1.4 Typical Application. Not applicable.
1.5 Remarks. Not applicable.
2 References
2.1 Normative.
SAE J911-98
2.2 GM. None.
3 Requirements
3.1 Requirements on Delivery.
3.1.1 Chemical Requirements.
3.1.1.1 Surface Carbon. The total surface carbon
on cold rolled exposed (E) shall not exceed 10 mg/m2
(milligrams per square meter) on uncleaned sheet.
The measurement method used shall show accept-
able R&R as agreed between supplier and purchaser,
with the referee method being weigh-strip-weigh. No
evidence of carbon or snake edge is allowed on E fin-
ish.
3.1.2 Mechanical Requirements. Not applicable.
3.1.3 Physical Requirements.
3.1.3.1 Surface Roughness. The arithmetic aver-
age (Ra) surface roughness shall be as follows:
© Copyright 2000 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
Originating Department: North American Engineering Standards, Records and Documentation
October 2000
COPYRIGHT General Motors Corporation, North America
Licensed by Information Handling Services
Surface Type Surface Roughness
Exposed, E 0.5 – 1.3 µm
Semi-exposed, Z 0.5 – 1.3 µm
Unexposed, U Not Required
3.1.3.2 Peak Count. Exposed and Semi-exposed
surfaces (E and Z grade) with an Ra roughness
within the above range are acceptable if the observed
Peak Count (PC) exceeds 40 using a 1.25 µm mea-
surement band for determining peaks per centimeter
(PCcm).
3.1.3.3 Test Method. SAE J911-98 Surface Rough-
ness and Peak Count Measurement of Cold Rolled
Steel Sheet shall be used to determine arithmetic av-
erage surface roughness (Ra) and peak frequency
(PC). Ra and PC shall be measured using a 0.8 mm
filter cutoff with the appropriate traverse length as
listed in SAE J911-98 for the type of instrument used
for the measurement.
3.1.3.4 Exposed (E) surface shall be free from
scratches, mill marks, dross, and any other steel
making or processing defects detrimental to a Class
A finish. This finish is applicable to bare and coated
products.
3.1.3.5 Semi-exposed (Z) surface cannot contain
scratches, dross, or any other steel making or pro-
cessing defects detrimental to Class B finish. This
surface is only applicable for a temper rolled, spangle
free, hot dip free zinc product.
3.1.3.6 Unexposed (U) surface may be bare or
coated and is to be used for Class C and/or Class
B finishes. Surface defects detrimental to the part
(lamination, flaking of zinc, excessive surface carbon,
etc.) are not allowed. The maximum spangle size for
hot dip free zinc product is 6 mm.
3.1.4 Additional Requirements. Not applicable.
3.2 Processing Requirements. Subparagraphs
were not applicable.
3.3 Performance Requirements.
Page 1 of 2
 GM6180M
3.3.1 Chemical Requirements. Not applicable.
3.3.2 Mechanical Requirements. Not applicable.
3.3.3 Physical Requirements.
3.3.3.1 Reappearance of the former tandem mill fin-
ish on the surface of the fabricated part is not permit-
ted.
3.3.3.2 All products shall be free from stretcher
strains for six months unless otherwise agreed upon
between purchaser and supplier.
3.3.4 Additional Requirements. Not applicable.
3.4 Requirements on other Stages during Life Cy-
cle. Subparagraphs were not applicable.
4 Manufacturing Process
Not applicable.
5 Rules and Regulations
5.1 Legal Regulations. For use of this material the
valid laws and other regulations and recommenda-
tions in the country of usage have to be followed.
5.2 Language. Not applicable.
5.3 Restricted and Reportable Substances for
Parts. Not applicable.
5.4 Inspection and Rejection. All shipments of ma-
terials or parts under contract or purchase order man-
ufactured to this specification shall be equivalent in
every respect to the initial samples approved by engi-
neering. There shall be no changes in formulation or
manufacturing process permitted without prior notifi-
cation and approval by engineering. Lack of notifica-
tion by the supplier constitutes grounds for rejection
of any shipment. While samples may be taken from
© Copyright 2000 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
Page 2 of 2
COPYRIGHT General Motors Corporation, North America
Licensed by Information Handling Services
GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS
incoming shipments and checked for conformance to
this specification, the supplier shall accept the respon-
sibility for incoming shipments meeting this specifi-
cation without dependence upon purchaser’s inspec-
tion.
5.5 Initial Source Approval. No shipments shall be
made by any supplier until representative initial pro-
duction samples have been approved by Materials
Engineering as meeting the requirements of this spec-
ification.
5.6 Safety Data Sheets. Not applicable.
6 Approved Sources
Not applicable.
7 Coding System
This material specification shall be called up in other
documents, drawings, VTS, CTS, etc. as follows:
GM6180M
8 Release and Revisions
8.1 Release. This specification was first approved
and published in August 1976.
8.2 Revisions.
Rev. Date Description (Org.)
B JUL 1991 Revised title (GM)
C OCT 2000 Total revision; reformatted, revised
title, Z-grade defined, converted to
metric, SAE test method and addi-
tional requirements added. (GM)
October 2000