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-----:Chrome plating is peeling from ABS
Quickstart:
Millions of car & truck grills, maybe most, are chrome plated ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic.
Many steps are involved in plating ABS, but one of the most important is etching, which produces a sponge-like surface so the plating can firmly interlock with the substrate for outstanding adhesion to withstand gravel strikes, car wash brushes, and the difference in thermal expansion between plastic and metal during sweltering sun & bitter winters.
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Q. Hi everyone,
I am new to this site and am very much a layman restoring a classic car.
About 2 years ago I had this ABS car trim rechromed in order to restore it to the factory finish.
It has sat for a while before being painted and my panel shop has informed me that a decent amount of the chrome has started lifting.
Unfortunately, the shop who did the finishing has shut down and there are no alternatives that I can take it to (I sent it from NZ to Aus to have this work done).
I guess the good news is that the part which is lifting will be entirely painted.
But that leaves me with the question, what do I do about it? The surround needs to stay chromed and seems to be well affixed to the ABS.
Can I somehow very gently cut away the area that is lifting and just paint the ABS? Can I try and spray some adhesive underneath and squish it back down? This kind of work is very foreign to me.
Leon Hoffman
hobbyist - New Zealand
March 13, 2026
A. Hi Leon,
Sorry this happened to you and keep your fingers crossed that the chrome will stay adhered where you need it to.
I would not suggest trying to lift anything to tuck epoxy under it as that will further stress and lift things. I would suggest cutting away whatever is loose and applying an epoxy bead at the boundary of the cut edges, i.e., across the top of the plating and the bare plastic. Epoxy is strong and I think this will hold it without prying under it and making it worse.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. I am having problems with chrome plating that is peeling off the base moulded component after a very short time. It is as if there is no adhesion between the copper layer and plastic component. The base material is ABS Ronfalin CP-55 supplied by Perrite. I have never come across this issue before. Does anyone out there have any thoughts?
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Tier 1 supplier to the Automotive industry - Coventry, West Midlands, UK
November 24, 2009
A. Look into the plastic processing parameters and final surface first. Then move on to the plating cycle parameters. Good luck,
Guillermo MarrufoMonterrey, NL, Mexico
I have eliminated the actual plating process as the root cause. I believe it to be the process conditions which I am working on now. Thanks for getting back to me anyhow.
- Coventry, West Midlands, UK
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