Chrome Copper
Chrome Plating
Process
The component will generally go through these different stages.
Degreasing to remove heavy soiling.
Manual cleaning to remove all residual traces of dirt and surface impurities.
Various pretreatments depending on the substrate.
Placed into the chrome plating vat and allowed to warm to solution temperature.
Plating current applied and component is left for the required time to attain thickness.
There are many variations to this process depending on the type of substrate being plated upon. Different etching solutions are used for different substrates. Hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and sulfuric acids can be used. Ferric chloride is also popular for the etching of Nimonic alloys. Sometimes the component will enter the chrome plating vat electrically live. Sometimes the component will have a conforming anode either made from lead/tin or platinized titanium. A typical hard chrome vat will plate at about 25 micrometres (0.00098 in) per hour.
The chrome plating chemicals are very toxic. Disposal of chemicals is regulated in most countries.
Process Example
Information provided below is an example of an aluminum metal part being processed. These steps are specific to a number of metal parts, but actual steps will vary according to the design and condition of the workpiece.
Chrome Stripping
Rack part for stripping process
Dip in electrically activated sodium hydroxide
Dip in hot water
Strip off nickel with activated sulfuric acid (taking care that the nickel is not eroded)
Place in Media Blaster for coating preparation
Grinding
Grind off any and all pits/ protrusions/ unwanted metal material
Smooth unwanted edges
As necessary, grind points of contact for future soldering
Cyanide Bath
Rack part with copper wire (some need weights attached to underside to prevent floating giving special attention avoiding the wire to touch the part)
Dip into Electro-cleaner wash
Rinse off soup lather
Dip in non-electrified sulfuric acid
Spray rinse with water
Place in cyanide
Place in cyanide rinse tank
Touching Up
Solder pits and fill in undercuts (with attention to avoiding a detrimental cut through part)
If applicable, attach broken metal pieces and filler metal with solder
Grind off extra solder to smooth finish
Acid Copper Bath
Place in cyanide to cover solder
Again dip in cyanide rinse
Spray wash with water
Cycle following steps for (1) hour intervals until acceptable appearance is seen:
Copper Bath
Sanding
Buffing
Chome Plating
Re-rack part with wire giving attention to sensitive areas (points and sharp curves are corroded without care)
Clean with kerosene and soft-bristled brush
Hand wash with soap and water
Spray rinse with water
Dip in sulfuric acid
Dip in sterile DI (deionized) water
Nickel plated
Dip in DI water
Dip in chrome tank with settings specific to the part
Spray rinse with water
Buff to smooth finish
Industrial chrome
Hard chrome plating
Industrial chromium plating, also known as hard chrome or engineered chrome, is used to reduce friction, add wear resistance, or increase corrosion resistance. It is very hard, measuring between 66 to 70 HRC. Hard chrome tends to be thicker than the decorative treatment, typically ranging from 0.075 to 0.25 millimetres (0.0030 to 0.0098 in), but thinner and thicker layers are not uncommon. Surface defects and roughness are amplified, because hard chrome does not have a leveling effect. Hard chromium plating is subject to different types of quality requirements depending on the application, for instance, the plating on hydraulic piston rods are tested for corrosion resistance with a salt spray test.
There are two types of industrial chrome plating solutions:
Hexavalent chromium baths whose main ingredient is chromic anhydride.
Trivalent chromium baths whose main ingredient is chromium sulfate or chromium chloride. Trivalent chromium baths are not yet common, due to restrictions concerning color, brittleness, and plating thickness.[citation needed]
A typical bath composition of a hexavalent chromium bath is as follows:
Chromic acid (CrO3): 225300 g/l
Sulfuric acid: 2.253.0 g/l, although it is usually measured in molarity or percent concentration
Operating temperature: 45 to 60 C
Plating current: 1.553.10 kiloamperes per square meter DC
Anodes: lead with up to 7% tin or antimony
Maximum superimposed AC ripple allowed is 18%, preferred ripple is 5% to 10%
Chromium may be stripped anodically in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or inhibited hydrochloric acid.
Automotive use
Formerly most decorative items affixed to cars were referred to as “chrome”, by which phrase was actually meant steel that had undergone several plating processes to endure the temperature changes and weather that a car was subject to outdoors. The most expensive and durable process involved plating the steel first with copper, and then nickel, before the chromium plating was applied.
Prior to the application of chrome in the 1920s, nickel was used. In the US for the short production run prior to the entry into the Second World War, plating was banned to save chromium and the decorative pieces were painted in a complementary color. In the last years of the Korean War, the banning of chrome was contemplated and several cheaper processes (such as plating with zinc and then coating with shiny plastic) were considered.
In 2007, a Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) was issued banning several toxic substances for use in the automotive industry in Europe, including hexavalent chromium, which is used in chrome plating.
See also
Stainless steel
References
^ Degarmo, E. Paul; Black, J T.; Kohser, Ronald A. (2003), Materials and Processes in Manufacturing (9th ed.), Wiley, p. 793, ISBN 0-471-65653-4 .
Further reading
SAE AMS 2406
SAE AMS 2438
SAE AMS 2460 – Plating, Chromium
Categories: Automotive styling features | Chemical processes | Chromium | Coatings | Corrosion prevention | Metal platingHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from January 2008
About the Author
I am China Chemicals Products writer, reports some information about socket weld coupling , barb brass fitting.
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