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High Speed Chrome Solution or a High Speed, Quality Plating Method?
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English
Abstract
There have been several so called high speed solutions developed. Using the same parameters to compare solutions, they do increase the rate of deposition. Increasing plating rates without changing plating methods does only one thing. It doesn't do anything to improve the final quality of the deposit. The hard chrome industry has been afflicted with not only slow plating rates but many other needless problems. To mention a few of them, uneven deposits, soft chrome, excess grinding time after plate, excess labor to do a job, non standardized fixtures and its very difficult to learn how to plate complicated parts. The actual list is much longer than this.
There is a plating method that has been in use for 50 years. Plating rates were purposely limited to .006 (152 u) per hour. Some companies are using .012 (304 u) to .030 (762 u) per hour on a outside diameter. This is being done in the old 100 to 1 chrome, sulfate solution without additives. The method can be used with any non fluoride bath. The so called low efficiency of the 100 to 1 bath is one of its advantages. It allows very close anode to cathode spacings as low as .005 (127 u). This makes for very even chrome deposits and the ability to chrome plate the impossible. Conversion to this better method does not cost, it pays. Pay back can be a few days or weeks.