Chrome Plating on Fasteners
Chrome plating or chromium plating is a electrolytic method of depositing a thing layer of chromium over a metal or plastic object. Chrome plating is mainly used for decorative purpose, giving the substrate an aesthetic look. Chrome plating is less cheaper and alternative to nickel plating in terms of providing decoration. Chrome plated surface provide corrosion resistance, increased surface hardness, easy cleaning of parts, etc.
Deposits can be applied from 0.25 - 1,000 microns thickness for a wide range of applications. The thinner deposits being used to substantially increase the life of components in wear applications or corrosive environments, and the thicker deposits being used for salvage and repair of worn, damaged or mis-machined components. Hard Chrome is classed as a "COLD" process, the operating temperature of 50 - 60°C ensures no detrimental effects to the physical or mechanical properties of the base materials. Hard Chrome can be deposited successfully and advantageously onto most metallic substrate materials.
Advantages of Chrome Plating
- High Hardness: Electro-deposited Chrome is extremely hard, with typical values of 850 - 1050 HV (63 - 70 HRc), hence the term "Hard" Chrome. This makes it an excellent coating for wear resistant and abrasion resistant applications such as Moulds and Dies, Punches, Bearing and Seal surfaces, and sliding components.
- Low Coefficient of fricton: Hard Chrome has a very low coefficient of friction, approx. one half that of Steel. The coefficient against Steel of 0.16 lubricated (0.21 dry), makes it ideally suited for such applications as Bearing and Seal surfaces, and machinery components.
- Wear Resistance: The high hardness and low frictional properties of Hard Chrome provide it with extremely good resistance to abrasive and erosive wear, extending the life of components such as Moulds, Dies and Punches etc, up to ten times in most cases.
- Corrosion Resistance: Hard Chrome has an extremely high resistance to atmospheric oxidation, and a good resistance to most oxidising and reducing agents.(with the exception to Chlorides and other Halides), hence its wide-spread use in the Food and Chemical Industries.
- Sacrificial Wear Layer: Since Hard Chrome deposits are readily removed with chemical strippers, without detrimental effect to the base material, the part can be stripped and re-plated repeatedly, when wear shows, without loss or damage to the base part. This is a significant advantage for high wear, high cost parts such as Plastic Moulds and Dies where abrasive filled plastics are used.
- Machining: Hard Chrome deposits can be successfully finished by grinding, linishing or polishing.
Chrome Plated Fasteners
Boltport offers chrome plating on following types of fasteners.