Hard chrome plating is one of the most popular industrial coating processes, offering remarkable strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Chrome coatings are found on everything from large-scale machine parts to high-powered metal-working tools. If you’re looking for the best finish for your project, below are answers to some questions you might have about chrome plating.

What to Know About Hard Chrome Plating

What is chrome plating?

During chrome plating, an object is placed into a solution of chromic acid. When an electrical current passes through the solution, chromium molecules bond with the surface of the object, creating a hard layer that is resistant to corrosion, friction, extreme temperatures, and caustic chemicals.

Can any material be chrome plated?

Hard chrome plating can be applied to a variety of base metals, including cast iron, stainless steel, brass, bronze, and copper. Plastics can also be chrome plated after a layer of nickel and copper is applied.

Do chrome-plated products rust?

While chrome itself does not rust, the base metal underneath may corrode if the surface is chipped, worn, or damaged enough to let moisture through. If the component has already started to corrode, a metalworker will need to sand off the affected metal before applying a new layer of chrome. Inspecting your parts regularly and having the plating replaced at the first sign of damage can add years to the life of your products and components. 

Is hard chrome plating the same as decorative plating?

Hard chrome plating is not as shiny as the decorative finish often found on car parts and silverware. However, it is much stronger and capable of withstanding much more pressure than a purely decorative finish. 

The same electroplating process is used to produce both finishes, but hard chrome plating is significantly thicker, sometimes measuring in the thousandths of an inch. Decorative chrome plating, by contrast, may be only a few microns thick.

Since 1946, R.A. Heller Co. has provided reliable hard chrome plating to businesses throughout Cincinnati, OH, and the surrounding areas. Their 20,000 square-foot facility features some of the most advanced equipment in the industry, giving them the ability to tackle even the largest, most complex projects. Visit their website to learn more about their hard chrome plating services, get tips and advice on Facebook, or call (513) 771-6100 to discuss your project with a member of their team.