Electralloy™ Thin Dense Chrome

Chrome Plating in thickness ranges from 0.000025 to 0.0005 inch (0.000635-0.0127 mm), Electro-Coatings markets a thin dense chrome under the trade name Electralloy™.

Alternate Descriptions:

Electralloy™ Thin Dense Chrome

Definition of thin dense chrome plating:

The Electralloy™ thin dense chrome plating process is an alternative to standard chrome plating, which may develop tiny cracks and thereby allow a corrosive liquid or gas to penetrate to the base metal and attack it. Thin, dense chrome is hard chrome which is so thin it has not yet built up enough stress to cause cracking and therefore has good corrosion resistance. It uniformly deposits a dense, high-chromium, non-magnetic alloy on the surface of any metal without measurably changing the micro-inch value of the base metal. This process of chrome plating offers design engineers an efficient means of improving the performance of metal wear parts, especially in sliding or rolling situations.

Benefits of thin dense chrome plating:

Electralloy™ Chromium Plating extends the life and improves the performance of ferrous and non-ferrous metal parts:

• lengthens service life
• increases lubricity
• permits use of similar opposing surface
• prevents galling
• results in significant savings in time, labor and replacement parts.

Features of thin dense chrome plating:

• Remarkable wear resistance
• Extremely low coefficient of friction
• Smooth sliding properties
• Excellent anti-seizure characteristics
• Beneficial corrosion resistance

Specifications of thin dense chrome plating:

The plating can be applied in thickness ranges from 0.000025 to 0.0005 inch with a tolerance of (+/-) 10%. The precision electro-chemical deposition takes place in a special fluoride bath to assure a positive, lasting bond between the base metal and the surface. The minimum deposition thickness prevents hydrogen build-up that often plagues plating.

Electralloy™ deposition takes place at low temperatures, generally less than 140 degrees F, and is applicable to all ferrous and nonferrous metals without causing distortion. Precise control of thickness tolerances is achieved by careful fixturing of the parts and control of the plating bath. This eliminates the need for grinding, lapping or honing after deposition, except in the case where finish reflectivity must be improved. Also, the plating exhibits no build-up on corners or sharp edges.

A uniform Electralloy™ plating can be applied to the internal and external surfaces of metal parts having varied configurations. Bores less than 13/16-inch diameter and parts with grooves less than 1/8-inch wide or grooves with a depth greater than the width will generally not accept a coating uniformly.

As applied in the Electralloy™ process, the coating's hardness value is in the range of 70 Rockwell C. This is harder than any generally used structural metal. Induction hardened steel, for example, measures at 62 on the Rockwell C scale. however, a great deal depends upon the base metal since the thickness range is limited. Therefore, despite its hardness, Electralloy™ plating should not be used as a general substitute for hardening.

The plating's main attribute in wear resistance is its low coefficient of friction which means less drag and therefore less heat is generated as the parts rub together. Against lubricated steel, Electralloy™ plating's coefficient of friction is 0.12 to 0.13, as compared to lubricated steel on steel which has a coefficient of friction of 0.20.

The Electralloy™ plating will be applicable in virtually any environment from cryogenic to high temperature, ranging from -425 degrees F to greater than 1150 degrees F ambient. Electralloy™ plating can be used to treat base metal for improved performance, or it may be combined with a less expensive base metal as a substitute for corrosion resistant steel, thereby generating considerable savings in material cost.

Industry Applications:
Electralloy™ Applications

• ACTUATORS: Hydraulic, air, solenoid, linear, rotary
• BEARING SURFACES: Steel, brass, cast-iron, aluminum bronze, ball, roller, needle
• BEARING RACES: All types, most metals
• BUSHINGS: Stainless steel, monel, brass, powdered metal, steel, cast-iron, mehanite
• CAMERA PARTS: Shutters, pins, bushings, actuators
• CAM SHAFTS: Auto, auto racing, industrial engines, industrial machines
• CAMS: Rolling, sliding, shaft mounted
• CARBIDE: Centered, cast, valves, valve seats, stems, plungers, punches, reamers, flow controls, regulators, feed dogs, inserts
• COMPUTERS: Slide bars, trays, moving parts
• COUPLINGS: Screw conveyor, rigid, flexible, threaded
• CUTTERS: Gear, thread, milling, sprocket, metal slitting, metal cut off
• CYLINDERS: Hydraulic, pneumatic
• DIE CAST: Molds, slides
• DRIVE TRANSMISSIONS: Gear, sprocket, chain, V-belt sheaves, variable pitch sheaves
• FITTINGS: Air, hydraulic, steam, water
• INSTRUMENTS: Measuring, marking, flowing, metering
• JACKS: Screw, hydraulic
• JOINTS: Ball, swivel, universal, slip
• KNIVES: Wood chipper, wood lathe plywood, paper cutting, paper chopping, metal shearing, metal cutting
• MACHINE TOOLS: Dials, feed screws, handles
• MOLDS: Rubber, plastic injection, plastic forming, die casting
• MACHINES INDUSTRIAL: Guides, rolls, gears, slides, all wear parts
• OIL EQUIPMENT: Magnetic spools, electronic equipment, logging equipment, shooting equipment, drilling equipment, percussion tool equipment, wash pipes, operating cylinders, operating pistons and shafts, impact pistons
• "O" RING GROOVES: Subassemblies, pistons, cylinders, sealing surfaces
• PISTON RINGS: Cast iron, mehanite, brass

Industrial Hard Chrome Specifics:

Electroalloy™, Electro-Coatings' trademarked name for Thin, Dense Chrome, is a type of chrome plating which allows design engineers to improve the performance of metal wear parts without measurably altering the micro-inch value of the base metal wherever the criteria are maximum resistance to abrasion, erosion, galling, cavitation and corrosive wear.

The Electroalloy™ process of chromium plating uniformly deposits a dense, high-chromium, non-magnetic alloy on the surface of any metal without measurably changing the micro-inch value of the base metal. Metals treated with Electroalloy™ plating will exhibit remarkable wear resistance, an extremely low coefficient of friction, smooth sliding properties, excellent antiseizure characteristics and beneficial corrosion resistance.

Remarkable Wear Resistance

The Electroalloy™ plating has three important advantages which are put to use in a wear situation. It is very hard; it is very slippery; and it is resistant to most industrially corrosive environments.

The Electroalloy™ plating exhibits excellent corrosion resistance - especially in the lower thickness ranges - since the natural cracking pattern that affects industrial hard chrome plating is not present in this thin, dense plating. Electroalloy™ will not chip, peel, crack or flake when subjected to standard bend tests over a radius of half the thickness of the metal to which it is applied.

Reliability in Critical Design Applications

The Electroalloy™ plating process offers design engineers an effective means of improving the performance of metal wear parts. Wherever the criteria are maximum resistance to abrasion, erosion, adhesive wear, scuffing or galling, scoring, seizing, cavitational and corrosive wear, and fretting of sliding or rolling metallic surfaces - the Electroalloy™ plating will improve performance and efficiency, and it will lengthen service life.