Hard chrome plating
Hard chrome plating is an electrolytic process in which chromium is deposited onto a metal substrate, giving it enhanced properties for durability, wear and hardness.
The UK's most sophisticated hard chrome plating facility
BEP Surface Technologies provide a high quality service for the precise deposition of hard chromium. We have the facilities to hard chrome plate a large range of components, from small shafts through to large laminating cylinders, cooling rolls, conductor rolls, turbine rotors, pump shafts, calender bowls, and printing rolls.
Chromium offers extreme hardness, from 900 to 1150 HV, low co-efficient of friction, excellent resistance to wear and abrasion and is resistant to most chemicals. The coating also retains its hardness after heating to 400°C and resists tarnishing above 300°C.
Hard chrome plating is a very effective treatment for a variety of metals/alloys including steel, copper and brass which are used in many modern technical applications. It is commonly used in situations where the component needs to be resistant to corrosion, such as hydraulic piston rods, gear shafts and items used in the automotive sector. It is also ideal for processes that require low-friction surfaces for delicate products, like textiles and paper.
Hard chrome plating brings a wide variety of desirable properties and characteristics, even if a component has already been coated or plated.
Our chrome purification plant ensures that our chrome vats deliver optimum performance at all times. This ensures the chrome solutions are always as new, resulting in superior chrome quality.
Properties & characteristics
Hardness
850-1000Hv (65-70Rc), harder than most industrial abrasives and steel counter faces.
Excellent wear and corrosion resistance
Hard chrome plate gives a very low wear rate (at least 100 times better than hardened steels or electroless nickel) with abrasive products like textiles, paper and food stuffs. With thick deposits, it gives excellent wear resistance under high-stress contact – such as against sand, coal, cement, limestone and glass fiber.
Abrasion resistance
With abrasion being the most common and destructive wear process found in industry, hard chrome has the potential to solve many problems in pumps, valves and bearings throughout a wide range of industries.
Low-friction
Having low-friction against polymers, carbons and graphites makes it ideal for textile applications or seal faces, as well as for components like vane pumps. It is the perfect counterface for PM and other polymers which rely on establishing a transfer-film for their best performance.
Stable and non-corrodible
Hard chrome plating is suitable for most organic acids and gasses (but not chlorine) and excellent in hot oxidizing or reducing air, in commodities like beer, sugar, brine, coal gas, cyanides, fruit acids, molten glass, glue, milk, oils and fuels.
Excellent substrate adhesion
Greater than 10,000 psi. Before plating, substrates are subjected to rigorous cleaning, so that the surface to be coated is completely free from contaminates. However the ultimate adhesion is achieved in the plating bath itself, with an initial reverse voltage etch which removes any residual surface contamination.
