Hard chromium electroplating is a surface treatment technology that is primarily used to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of metal parts. This process is particularly suitable for applications that require enhanced surface hardness, such as parts used in industries such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and mold making.
Author: Anna
Hard chromium electroplating (HCE) is a surface treatment technology that is primarily used to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of metal parts. This process is particularly suitable for applications that require enhanced surface hardness, such as parts used in industries such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and mold making.
Key features of hard chrome plating include:
High cathodic current efficiency: typically up to 22% to 30%, which means that more current is efficiently used to deposit the chromium layer, rather than generating heat or other by-products.
High deposition speeds: typically two to three times that of conventional chrome plating, which helps to shorten production cycles and increase efficiency.
Plating hardness: Hard chrome plating typically has a hardness between HV900 and 1200, which makes it highly resistant to abrasion.
Smoothness of plating: The surface of plating is smooth and detailed with good gloss.
Uniformity of plating thickness: Good dispersion ability makes the plating thickness more uniform.
Microcrack structure: There are a large number of microcracks in the hard chrome plating, these cracks can relieve the stress and help to improve the flaking resistance of the plating.
No Solids Added: Some hard chrome plating processes do not require the addition of solids, reducing contamination and maintenance.
Easy bath maintenance: Some processes simplify bath maintenance.
No anode corrosion: No special anode materials are required and anodes will not corrode.
No corrosion of the substrate: no corrosion of the substrate material even in low current density areas.
The process of hard chrome plating generally includes the following steps:
Pre-treatment: Removal of oil and other impurities from the surface of the workpiece.
Electroplating: Deposition of chromium ions on the surface of the workpiece by electrolysis to form a plating layer.
Post-treatment: may include steps such as cleaning and drying.
In practice, it is also necessary to pay attention to some common problems and their solutions, such as peeling off of the plated layer, pinholes and pockmarks, etc., and take appropriate preventive measures.