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PVD applied to Trivalent Chrome

At present we are having our parts Hexavalent chrome plated and then PVD(brass) applied to them. Our plating source is changing to Trivalent Chrome I am led to believe that PVD can not be applied to this.

William Queen
brass - Lakewood, New York
2006

You were misinformed. Chrome plating is metallic (zero valence); i.e., neither hexavalent nor trivalent.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California

Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006

William, you are being severely misled. Chromium is chromium is chromium. The difference between trivalent and hexavalent is that the oxidation state (valence) of trivalent is +3 and hexavalent is +6. Chromium metal is 0. I suggest whoever told you that trivalent chrome cannot be processed by PVD has got confused.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2006

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