Electralloy™
What is Electralloy™?
Electralloy™ is Electro-Coatings' exclusive thin dense chrome plating process, delivering a highly corrosion, wear, and friction resistant surface without significant dimensional distortion sometimes present in standard industrial thin dense chrome plating.
Chrome Plating Advantages
Electralloy™ is most useful when very tight dimensional tolerances are key and there are to be no secondary grinding or polishing operations. Additionally, the nature of the thin layer provides increased corrosion protection, due to the absence of micro-cracking found in industrial thin dense chrome, with thicker plating deposits.
An industrial chrome layer is deposed in a microscopically thin coating from 0.000025" to 0.0005" in depth, a density which will not materially change the micro inch value of the base metal. It can be applied to a wide variety of substrates and geometries. The chrome electroplating process produces an exceptional hardness and a high level of surface consistency, providing a coefficient of friction 40% lower than lubricated steel (.12 to .13 vs, steel at .20). The result is a marked reduction in abrasion, erosion, adhesive wear, scuffing or galling, scoring and seizing.
As an added bonus, thin dense chrome or industrial chrome plated parts are far more corrosion resistant than standard chrome plated parts. The surface inconsistencies that are a by-product of standard plating do not occur with the dense chromium composition and microscopic thickness of Electralloy™ coating. This attribute offers significant cost savings by allowing the substitution of low cost base metal for expensive corrosion resistant steels. Electralloy™ maintains its anti-corrosion protection across a wide temperature range, yielding consistent friction reduction without degradation by extreme heat or cold.
Thin Dense Chrome Plating Process & Specifictions
Generally, thin dense chrome plating includes several stages: stripping to degrease the metal and remove all traces of dirt, soil and other impurities; various pretreatments, including polishing and sanding; wiring and racking to hold parts in the plating tanks; and, finally, placement into a plating tank and application of plating current. There are variations to the process depending on the type of substrate.
- Fights friction without changing component dimensions
- Surface hardness to 70 Rockwell C
- Low coefficient of friction (0.12 to 0.13 against lubricated steel)
- Low heat application won't distort components
- Higher resistance to corrosion than standard chrome plating
- Performs in temperatures from -425° to +1150° F
Exceptional Application Skill
As with any thin dense chrome coating, successful Electralloy™ application relies on careful fixturing of parts and precise control of the plating bath. The plating craftsmen at Electro-Coatings have extensive experience at this critical process, and are solidly backed by the latest in costing technology and the engineering expertise of seasoned experts in the plating, coating and metallurgy fields.