A Question About Chrome Plating

padlock

padlock

Hero member
Location
bedford Uk
Hi All,
        I've read somewhere that chrome plating can reduce the strength of the item being plated. Is this true, and if so, by how much? 
Thank You in advance. Cheers. Mark
 
Never heard that before.
The purpose of the plating is to protect the metal part from corrosion (and to look purdy).
It is a very thin coating relative to the metal part, say an exhaust downpipe.

Maybe some of the nasty chemicals used in the process may attack the metal but electroplating should not harm the part.

Happy to be corrected if I am talking bollocks though.
 
Mark - generally of concern with high tensile materials.  If you Google chrome plating embrittlement you'll get plenty of stuff on the subject.  Summary seems to be 'don't chrome plate any stressed components' (e.g. frame; driveline) although entrapped hydrogen can be removed by baking components within 24hr of plating.  Up to 50% reduction in fatigue strength identified....effectively negates factor of safety in initial design!  Oo er missus

http://www.finishing.com/1600-1799/1747.shtml
 
nickle plating doesn't attract the hydrogen embrittlement you can get with chrome, but the chemicals in the plating bath can still affect the life of the part. This is why when you nickle plate a frame either all parts are sealed or all parts are free draining.
You do not want to have the bath chemicals trapped in a tube....

Bright Zinc and Cadmium (when you can find it) have the same caveats re the bath solutions.
 
padlock said:
So this would be why Rickman frames etc are nickel plated and not chromed?
Click to expand...

No one ever accused the Rickman bros of being poor businessmen....

Price up frame beadblast and baked enamel or powdercoat Vs beadblast and nickel plate...

even out here in NZ it's cheaper to nickel plate - and it looks expensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top