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Hard Chrome Removal by Chemical Dip

June 27, 2011

Hi.

I am searching ways to remove hard chrome plating (mostly big parts from Excavators, etc.)

Is there any solvent-type chemical that can enable us to just dip or rinse the parts in order to get the hard chrome removed from the body?

Thank you very much for your kind assistance and information.

Hendra H.
Hard Chrome - Jakarta, Indonesia

The easiest way to remove chromium plating from steel is to strip it electrolytically in a warm alkaline solution like a highly alkaline cleaner. Please be aware the chromium will dissolve slowly and be hexavalent if you use this method. The steel should not be etched by this method.

Lyle Kirman
consultant - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
July 1, 2011

In my last company we used to operate an alkali electrolytic solution containing ~100 g/l Sodium Hydroxide and ~100 g/l sodium carbonate / washing soda [affil links]. This seemed to be quite an efficient way of stripping often quite thick deposits of Chrome.

Emily Gardiner
Chemist - Poole, Dorset, UK
July 4, 2011

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