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Problems with adhesion of chrome on 420 stainless steel

I am having a hard time chrome plating 420 stainless steel with industrial hard chrome. can you give me some input of cleaning procedures for the chrome to adhere to 420 stainless steel with a build up of .003-.010.

Steve House
plating supervisor - sandston, Virginia. United States
February 24, 2009

February 26, 2009

If your part will pass a water break test after alkaline cleaning, then the problem is in your etch. Do not etch with HCl as it will mess up your chrome tank. Ideal is etching with reverse current in a chromic acid solution.
If you are using a porous pot on your chrome tank, then you can etch with reverse current in your chrome tank with little damage to the solution as the pot will remove the tramp metals which is mostly iron for 420.
If you absolutely have to, do a light blast with 400 white aluminum oxide and then use a caustic cleaner.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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