Chrome Plating-a process that makes cars stylish

The appearance of new cars in recent years looks very high-end, which easily makes people want to buy them. This is because the surface of the car body is plated with a layer of chrome, which not only looks bright and clean and plays a decorative role, but also serves as a protective layer to improve the performance of parts.
Chrome plating is a process of plating a layer of chromium on metal or certain non-metals through electrolysis or chemical methods. Chrome plating has two advantages: First, it has a decorative effect. The chromium-plated surface is bright and has better friction resistance. Although its anti-rust ability is not as good as galvanizing, it is worse than oxidation; second, it prevents corrosion and increases the hardness of metal parts. , wear resistance, etc., play a protective role and improve the functionality of parts.

Common chrome plating classifications include bright chrome plating, matte chrome plating, hard chrome plating, etc.

Bright chrome plated

Bright chromium plating, that is, controlling the current density and the composition of the electrolyte during the electroplating process, makes the chromium layer show a bright color, usually silvery white or golden yellow. This process is usually used on decorative parts in the home, electronic products, and other fields to increase their gloss and beauty.

matte chrome plated

Matte chrome plating, that is, by adding specific additives to the chromium plating solution, the electroplated chromium layer shows a dull color, usually gray or black, which can prevent rust and the cost is relatively high. This process is usually used on decorative parts of cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles to increase their fashion and personalization.
Hard chrome plating

Hard chromium plating is a thicker chromium coating on the surface of various substrates. Its thickness is generally above 20 μm. It uses the characteristics of chromium to improve the hardness, wear resistance, temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and other properties of the parts.
Chrome plating generally has five basic stages:

The first stage is to remove grease. Use chemicals to remove grease from the metal surface to ensure the surface is free of ingredients that would interfere with plating.

The second stage is cleaning. Cleaning the surface thoroughly will help remove dirt and residue, such as tiny dust particles.

In the third stage, the underlying (to be plated) metal is treated to ensure that the metal surface is as smooth as possible, thus ensuring that the coating maintains a high level of integrity over a longer period of time. Commonly used methods include copper plating, nickel plating, and chromium plating.

In the fourth stage, the metal is placed in a container containing the pretreatment solution and allowed to gradually heat up to the appropriate temperature to start chromium plating.

In the fifth stage, the electroplating process begins. The solution in the container is a mixed solution of chromium-containing compounds, and the compound is allowed to etch into the metal surface (through an electrochemical reaction). The thickness of the plating depends on the time the metal stays in the container.

Due to the relatively high surface finish of the chromium layer, it is often used in decorative parts of automobiles, such as automobile instruments, interior decorations, ornaments, and other parts with appearance requirements.
Due to the characteristics of chromium metal, the chromium plating layer can be exposed to the air all year round. The metal bumper on the car is a good example of electroplating. It can be used normally for decades and only needs daily maintenance. Therefore, chromium plating is also the most commonly used metal. One of the surface treatment processes.