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Chrome-Plating PVC pipe?

adv.
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Q. Best product for a mirror-chrome finish?
I do automotive restorations. Is there a company that could finish PVC pieces to look have a mirror-chrome finish?

CD Clapper
- Central Pennsylvania

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)

A. Hi CD. When you ask for the "best", the answer is to switch from PVC to ABS and get real chrome electroplating. That is what is on the shiny front grilles of most of the world's automobiles ... but it's very expensive, and proper adhesion requires the ABS in lieu of the PVC.

Second best in terms of looks is probably "chrome-look paint". This is done with a 3-layer (at least) paint job: the first layer needs to adhere to the plastic and offer an active sensitized surface. The second layer is [on eBay or Amazon] and an oxidizing agent, which deposits a silvery layer (that you may have seen on thermos bottles or other silvered glass). The top layer is a UV-resistant clear coat to protect the thin silver layer.

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 2021

⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩

"How to Electroplate Non-Metallics"

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

2002

Q. I am trying to find an inexpensive way to put a chrome finish on PVC pipe for a school play. Does anyone know of a cheap, simple and fast way to do this?

Thank you very much,

Andre Pina
- Elmsford, New York
December 12, 2021

A. Paint adheres very poorly to PVC, and the "chrome look" spray paint you find in a hardware store doesn't really look a lot like chrome. It is possible, but prohibitive in cost to chrome plate plastic pipe. For a school play, I'd look for chrome-like tape or adhesive shelf-liner paper (they used to call it Contac paper). Gluing on aluminum foil, dull side out, may look enough like chrome for a school play.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002

1998

Q. I would like to "chrome plate" a PVC model and would like to know if this is possible (PVC has a low heat tolerance) or what I can do that will achieve the same or similar results.

How is styrene plastic chromed (in car models, etc.) can I use this technique for PVC?

Robert F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]

"Metallic Coating of Plastics"
by William Goldie

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. Plastic can most definitely be chrome plated. Virtually all of the chrome grills, and headlight bezels you see on automobiles are chrome plated plastic, mostly ABS, sometimes polypropylene. Other plastics are chrome plated for power tools, office equipment, etc.

However, the shiny stuff you see on inexpensive plastic items like cosmetic caps, toy cars, etc. is usually vacuum metallized aluminum with a lacquer topcoat.

Unfortunately, you can do neither chrome plating nor vacuum metallizing at home. Nor would most plating shops be very interested in trying to chrome plate one or a few PVC parts. You might consult our directory listing of jobshops, or talk to a prototype specialist.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
1998

Ed. note (Oct '05): Progress in "chrome-look" paint has been very rapid in the last few years, and your application requirements might be met with that kind of product.

"Plating on plastics"
by Don Baudrand & Gurd Mueller

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

Q. I'm interested in setting up a plastic chrome plating shop.Where would I find information on the different processes, equipment, chemicals, EPA requirements, etc.

Peter P [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Quality Cars - Grants Pass Oregon
1999

Ed. note: A very wide-ranging book for those interested in plating, and also very inexpensive, is probably the Metal Finishing Guidebook. But there are books specifically about chrome plating on plastics.

Q. I am wanting to know if it possible to chrome plate over-the-counter PVC pipe (schedule 80 to be specific)?

RFQ: If so, where would I look for a source for this process?

Thanks.

Ted G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Swimming Pool Maker - Santa Ana, California, USA
2005

2005

A. Hi Ted,

Re chroming your pipe, sorry, but I can't help you but surely this could be easily done... by plating experts.

But I wonder why you want to do this ... and if you chrome it successfully, heck, you won't be able to cement it to anything.

If, if, if you have a mega business, then why not go to the extruding Company and ask them if it's possible to mix in some 'silver' or what-have-you additions to the Banbury mixer before extruding. PVC pipe in Ye Olden Days was coloured blue in (France), green (England), white (Italy) and red in Krautland ... and the German Trovidur red is still available.

Anyhow, food for thought.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).

Q. Thanks for the information. The chroming is for the look. I am using the pipe as part of a soft-sided above ground swimming pool frame. They attach using a 1.9OD metal pipe. Chroming would give the frame a more finished and "richer" look.

I have learned from an extruder that I can either extrude with a plate-able ABS or have a powder coater paint a metallic paint over it, then chrome plate it (I am waiting to see price-cost comparisons before choosing). If no further feedback comes from here, I will try one of those options. Thanks again.

Ted Gillebaard
- Santa Ana, California, USA
2005

"Standards and Guidelines for Electroplated Plastics"
by American Society for Electroplated Plastics

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi Ted.

The plateable grade ABS option is an excellent and robust solution! That is the construction method of the majority of brightwork on automobiles. PVC is not directly electroplateable, and painting PVC and then plating it is asking for troublesome non-adherent deposits. "Stick" with ABS. But real chrome plating is much more expensive than powder coating. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

A. Hi Ted,

Well, you did ask about PVC .... but as others have pointed out, ABS lends itself better to plating or painting, for that matter.

Further, ABS has improved impact properties over PVC.

If your 'tubes' or pipes were fairly long and tended to bulge or deflect, heck, fill them with something to keep them rigid.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2005

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