Summary for chrome plating over other bases Discussion
Chrome plating over other bases is the core question here: Selvaraj R asked whether chrome could be applied to metals other than nickel, such as zinc or copper, while still achieving a decorative nickel-chrome look on steel at lower cost. Anders Sundman answered that chrome can be plated over nearly anything, but without the nickel layer it will not have the same decorative appearance or the same nickel-chrome corrosion resistance. When Selvaraj clarified that the goal was a finish equivalent to nickel plus chrome with about 50 hours NSS corrosion resistance, Anders said no lower-cost finish would closely match nickel-chrome in appearance and suggested chrome-look paint as a possible alternative. The discussion therefore points to a practical limitation: chrome alone may be possible on other bases, but it is not a true substitute for nickel-chrome if appearance and corrosion performance are important.
Q. Presently, we are doing chrome plating over nickel plated steel parts. Is it possible to coat chrome over anyother substances like zinc, copper,etc., other than nickel?
Thanks
Selvaraj R
Engineering – India
April 11, 2012
A. Hi, Selvraraj.
Chrome can be plated over nearly anything, but you will not get a decorative nickel-chrome plating look, nor will you get nickel-chrome corrosion resistance, without the nickel. Please explain your situation for a more interesting and useful discussion. Thanks.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
April 11, 2012
A. Hi,
Chrome plating on brass used by Mercedes Benz in the beginning and the chrome is shining, of course they polish the chrome after chrome plating operation.
Your question, Yes chrome can be applied on almost all materials without nickel.
Regards
Anders Sundman
4th Generation Surface Engineering
Consultant – Arvika,
Sweden
A. Hi Ted,
Thanks a lot !
We are developing a decorative part which has to have equivalent finish of Nickel+Chrome. The base part is steel. We planned to reduce the coating cost, by eliminating the use of Nickel. Hence this question was posted. Corrosion resistance would be ~50 hours in NSS. Finish: similar or closer to NiCr. Do you have any suggestions for this?
Thanking you once again!
Selvaraj R
– India
Second of two simultaneous responses — April 12, 2012
A. Hi,Selvaraj.
Well, no lower cost finish will come close to matching nickel-chrome in appearance, but you could perhaps do chrome-look paint.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
April 12, 2012
A. Many Thanks for the inputs !!
Selvaraj R
– India
April 16, 2012