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-----Trivalent chromium plating VS non-hex chromium plating?
January 3, 2013
Q. We are asking our suppliers for non-hexavalent chromium coating. Is non-hex chromium plating the same as trivalent chromium plating or is trivalent chromium plating a type of non-hexavalent plating?
Isabelle Des- Montreal
A. Hi Isabelle. Although trivalent is non-hexavalent, non-hexavalent doesn't imply trivalent. But are you talking about chrome plating or chromate conversion coating? They are very different things.
There is a very valid reason for telling your suppliers you don't want hexavalent chromate conversion coating: the parts won't pass European RoHS, ELV and other standards, and it leaves carcinogenic hexavalent chromium on parts that can be touched by people.
Chrome plating leaves only chrome metal on the parts, whether they were plated in a trivalent or hexavalent plating bath.
It can be dangerous to tell people what they can and can't do if you don't understand the implications of what you are telling them though. If you can tell us what you are plating, and with what, and why,we can probably say more.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
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