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Dying Black Finish on Stainless Steel?

October 7, 2011

I'm looking for a Dark, solid Black finish for Stainless Steel surgical instruments. They do a process in Germany, called "Black Chrome." It has a real dark Black look, almost like it was painted on, but it is a plating process. A real nasty one at that. This isn't the "Black Oxide" that I've seen on nuts and bolts and parts, etc.

Someone told me a but a "Dying" process that gave that result. Anyone familiar with it? Is it durable? Can it be done in-house. I'm not a plater, but we do plate some of instruments in house with Gold.

I've see the stuff billed as "Black Chrome" and while it is a nice finish, it isn't really Black, and on a highly polished SS item, it's hard to distinguish from the SS.

Thanks, Joe

Joe Black
Surgical Instrument Manufacturer - Tucker, Georgia

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October 7, 2011

Hi, Joe.

A plating process is only truly nasty to the extent that people are exposed to hazardous chemicals or the fumes and effluent from the process are allowed to pollute. Black chrome yields a durable and beautiful finish. Black chrome is available in many shades from "smoked glass" to almost a full "lamp black" color and is fairly widely available here in the USA. What you are saying"isn't really Black" is probably a light shade. You may wish to listen to our podcast interview on the subject with Willie World of Highland Plating.

Unfortunately, when "chrome-look paint" is offered in black, it is sometimes erroneously called black chrome.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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October 10, 2011

Durable black can be done on medical instruments without chrome-based process. Bright or matte, depending on initial surface preparation.

Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania