Industrial Hard Chrome Plating Services

The properties of chromium are most desirable as metal coatings due to their inherent protective and decorative characteristics. Chromium deposits with excellent adhesion to a variety of base metals. It has a pleasing bluish-white color and is highly resistant to oxidation or tarnishing, contributing to its popularity as a decorative coating. In addition, hardness, wear resistance and low co-efficient of friction are the properties that make chromium of value in practically every major industry. When identified as industrial hard chrome, it is differentiated from decorative applications, and is primarily applied to a substrate material for the purpose of wear resistance.

The electrolytic deposition of chromium to the surfaces of other materials, primarily metals, occurs when electrical energy supplied to electrodes in a solution consisting primarily of chromic acid is converted to chemical energy to produce chromium metal.

Frequently, when expensive machined parts are damaged or worn and no longer functional, hard chrome plating can be used to build up the lost metal and the parts can then be ground to their original tolerances. In many cases the wear life will have improved.

On new parts hard chrome is used to improve the durability of a variety of components of industrial equipment. The printing industry makes use of copper engraved plates and cylinders which are hard chrome plated for corrosion and wear resistance. Oil exploration equipment and production machinery of all types have many of their component parts chrome plated to extend their in-service life and to reduce costly downtime. Hydraulic equipment utilizes chrome plated shafting to extend service life in corrosive industrial environments.