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Learning about chrome plating on plastic

I'm interested in learning about plating chrome on plastic and then taking it off again. At the same time I'm looking for a copy of the GM standard for decorative Chromium plating (I think it is GM4372M)...I can't read my copy (it is well used and rather smeared up).

Karen Dudzinski
Tier 1 automotive supplier - Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
2005

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OK I'm following up on my own post but I've a few things to add. I've managed to get a clean copy of GM's standard - so that point is moot, but I'm trying to strip the plating layers off of a plastic part to make a nice 'display' part for presentation purposes....I'm trying to show all of the different layers, stepwise, on the part. Any suggestions for a good reference for independent stripping of the various layers would be greatly appreciated (I'm hoping not to damage the previous layers as I strip).

Cheers,

Karen Dudzinski
- Aurora, ON, CANADA
2005

Probably the best way to display the plating layers is to use some sort of mask while plating. Depending on the fragility of the plating, either use a masking tape or some kind of grease to protect a part of a layer from the next plating process. You might start with masking 1/4 of the base plastic while you do the first plating layer, then mask that 1/4 plus a 2cm strip of the first layer while you plate the second layer. Then mask all of that plus a 2cm strip of the second layer while you plate the third and so on. You'll end up with the base plastic exposed along with 2cm strips of each layer in the finished example...

Conor Daly
- Dublin, Ireland
2006

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