The Advantages of Hard Chrome Plating for Industrial ...

Hard chrome plating, a prevalent surface finishing technique, involves the deposition of a chromium layer onto a metal base. This procedure is essential in numerous industrial sectors to enhance the surface characteristics of machinery components. At Barkens Hard Chrome, we specialize in providing premium hard chrome plating services for various fields such as aerospace, automotive, and general manufacturing. This write-up delves into the benefits of hard chrome plating and elucidates why it’s a favored option in the industrial arena.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Hard Chrome Plating Equipment. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Corrosion Resistance of Hard Chrome Plating

The primary benefit of hard chrome plating is its exceptional corrosion resistance. The chromium layer serves as a protective shield, safeguarding the metal substrate beneath from corrosive agents like moisture, chemicals, and seawater. This characteristic makes hard chrome plating an ideal choice for parts exposed to severe environmental conditions.

Enhanced Wear Resistance

Another significant advantage of hard chrome plating is its remarkable wear resistance. The chromium coating is incredibly tough and durable, perfect for components that endure extensive wear and tear. The result is a considerable extension in the lifespan of these parts, leading to reduced maintenance expenses and minimized downtime.

Low Coefficient of Friction

One distinctive feature of hard chrome plating is its low coefficient of friction. This property is beneficial in applications where smooth and seamless movement of parts is critical. The chromium layer diminishes friction between components, thereby reducing wear and potential damage.

Improved Aesthetics

Besides functional advantages, hard chrome plating also enhances the visual appeal of parts and components. The chromium layer gives a shiny, polished finish that not only looks attractive but also improves the overall aesthetic of the products.

Wide-Ranging Versatility

Hard chrome plating is a versatile surface treatment method applicable to various substrates, including steel, aluminum, copper, and brass. It is used in numerous applications, such as hydraulic cylinders, pump shafts, molds, and dies.

Barkens Hard Chrome Services

At Barkens Hard Chrome, we utilize cutting-edge technology and equipment to deliver top-tier hard chrome plating services. Our skilled team of professionals can guide you in choosing the appropriate type of hard chrome plating for your specific needs, ensuring optimal performance and durability. We offer both standard and high-build hard chrome plating, along with other surface finishing services like electroless plating, thermal spray coatings, and precision grinding.

In summary, hard chrome plating is a highly recommended option for industrial applications due to its excellent corrosion and wear resistance, low friction coefficient, aesthetic enhancement, and versatility. For all your hard chrome plating and surface finishing needs, reach out to Barkens Hard Chrome today to explore our service offerings and how we can assist in meeting your specific requirements.

Chrome plating significantly enhances the hardness, durability, and corrosion resistance of a surface, while also providing a sleek, smooth finish that is easier to clean.

 

The superiority of hard chrome plating in wear and corrosion resistance is unrivaled. The hardness and robustness imparted by a chromium finish ensure that parts maintain their integrity even under severe mechanical stress. Additionally, the resistance to corrosion makes chrome an ideal candidate for harsh environments, where other coatings would degrade, exposing the substrate to corrosive forces.

 

At Hard Chrome Specialists, a Pennsylvania leader in industrial surface finishing and plating, we take pride in our advanced hard chrome technology. Serving customers since 1988 in locations like York and Harrisburg, our 14,000-square-foot Pennsylvania facility is equipped to handle various industrial chrome plating needs.

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The lifespan of hard chrome plating varies with its application and environmental exposure, but it generally extends the wear life of the base material by 2 to 10 times. Factors influencing the durability of chrome plating include:

• Surface preparation quality and method
• Choice and quality of plating solution
• Thickness of the plating layer

Our expertise at Hard Chrome Specialists ensures we choose optimal plating parameters to deliver excellent wear, corrosion, and durability properties. We meticulously prepare all materials before plating and maintain a clean, pure plating bath to reduce impurities. The outcome is high-quality hard chrome plating that offers years of reliable performance. In non-wear situations, our chrome plating can even last multiple decades, despite harsh conditions.

The hard chrome plating process can typically be completed within a day. However, the exact duration depends on several factors:

• The size of the items
• The number of items
• The volume of chrome required
• The desired thickness
• Any specific requests or complexities

Although chrome plating offers an attractive finish, it serves many functional purposes beyond aesthetics in industrial settings. Common applications include:

• Hydraulic cylinders and pistons
• Automotive and mechanical components
• Rolls, molds, dies, screws, and other forming surfaces
• Press punches and industrial tooling
• Mining and agricultural equipment
• Shafts and rotors for pumps
• Components in textiles and printing machinery

These are just a few examples of hard chrome plating's diverse industrial applications. Contact our team to discuss more specific applications and how we can meet your particular requirements.

Our industrial chrome plating methodology involves using electrical currents to extract dissolved metallic chromium from a plating bath and deposit it onto the substrate — your product. By managing bath chemistry and current flow meticulously, we ensure the appropriate chrome density for your application. Our proven approach positions us as a trusted name in hard chrome plating on the East Coast, enabling us to extend our services across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and beyond.

 

Once the chrome layer is applied, it forms a hard, durable surface that resists wear, impact, and corrosion. Additionally, the resulting surface is clean, smooth, and aesthetically pleasing, making it easy to inspect for unusual wear. Where a consistent and visually appealing finish is needed, our chrome plating is the perfect choice for lasting dependability.

Besides the prominent wear and corrosion resistance, hard chrome plating offers several other industrial benefits:

• Applicability to a wide variety of metals, including stainless steel, copper, brass, and more
• Low-temperature application, causing minimal impact on the substrate metal
• Suitability for complex and irregular shapes, including holes and bores
• Excellent adhesion, with minimal risk of delamination or flaking during usage

 

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Considering all these advantages, hard chrome plating provides a robust industrial finish that cuts down on operational costs and reduces downtime due to its improved wear resistance, hardness, and corrosion resistance.

 

Beyond its practical benefits, hard chrome plating offers a bright, attractive finish, making it suitable for components that are visible or on display. Achieving an even smoother finish is possible through grinding and polishing, rendering our industrial hard chrome plating ideal for ball bearings and sliding guide applications as well.

While hard chrome plating offers numerous advantages, certain challenges may arise during or after the process. Here are four common issues and their solutions:

• Oxidation: Metals naturally oxidize, making it hard for plating to adhere effectively. Apply plating before the metal is exposed to water, moisture, or air to prevent this issue.
• Blistering: This occurs when gases expand within the pores, causing bubbles. Thorough cleaning of the base metal before plating can mitigate this problem.
• Burned deposits: High current densities can result in rapid chromium deposition, leading to burned edges. Control the current density to prevent this.
• Cleavage points: Materials may split along structural planes during die-casting. Maintain current density carefully during the process to avoid this issue.

What is hard chrome plating?

Hard chrome plating applies a chromium layer to a surface to enhance corrosion and abrasion resistance, reduce friction, and extend the life of parts used in high-wear conditions.

 

How hard is hard chrome plating?

Hard chrome plating measures between 68 and 72 on the Rockwell "C" hardness scale, which is used to determine material hardness. In comparison, very hard steels in tools and knives measure between 55 and 66 on the same scale.

 

What materials can be hard chrome plated?

Materials commonly chrome plated include steel, cast iron, stainless steel, bronze, brass, and copper.

 

What distinguishes chrome from hard chrome?

Hard chrome is used for wear resistance, whereas decorative chrome is for cosmetic purposes. Thus, decorative chrome layers are much thinner.

 

Is hard chrome plating magnetic?

No, hard chrome plating is a non-magnetic coating.

 

Does hard chrome rust?

Although hard chrome is highly corrosion-resistant, it can rust over long periods in wet environments due to its micro-crack structure.

 

Is chrome plating toxic?

While chromium is carcinogenic in its liquid form, the plated material becomes non-toxic once the plating process is complete.

 

Does the quality of chrome plating matter?

Yes, poor-quality chrome plating can become porous, exposing the material to harmful substances that promote corrosion. High-quality plating is crucial for effective protection.

 

Are chrome and chromium different?

Chromium is a chemical element, while chrome refers to chromium that has been plated onto another material.

 

What does hard chrome plating cost?

The price ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on size, number of items, and plating thickness. Hard chrome plating is generally more expensive due to the detailed process involved.

 

How thick can chrome plating be applied?

Hard chrome can be applied at thicknesses ranging from 0.0008 to 0.0050 inches, depending on the requirements.

 

What happens when chrome is heated?

While chrome becomes soft at high temperatures, it retains its corrosion resistance, increasing the base material's lifespan.

 

Can hard chrome be re-plated?

Yes, old chrome layers can be chemically stripped without damaging the base material, followed by polishing and re-plating.

 

What makes our chrome plating process unique?

Hard Chrome Specialists use conforming anodes for uniform depositions, especially beneficial for intricate geometries.

With growing demand, more industrial customers in Pennsylvania and beyond are turning to Hard Chrome Specialists. Contact us to start your project, and we will customize our industrial chrome plating solutions to meet your specific needs.

 

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