The Difference Between Hard Chrome Plating And Nickel-Chrome Plating
Hard chrome plating is likely the least understood of these three chroming processes. Hard chrome plating involves heavy coatings of chromium in order to provide wear resistance, oil retention and lubricity. It is not decorative and is instead used to add durability to such things as piston rings, hydraulic cylinder rods , thread guides and molds. It derives its name from its measurable thickness and is normally applied to steel substrates. While it is metallic and shiny, it is not a decorative finish. Hard chrome plating is a good option for wheels or bumpers. Nickel chrome plating also called decorative chrome plating, nickel-chrome plating involves electroplating a thin layer of nickel onto the item before the chrome layer is plated onto it. The layer of nickel adds smoothness, reflectivity and corrosion resistance. The chrome layer that is applied on top of it is very thin, measuring in the millionths of an inch. The appearance of decorative chrome primarily comes from t...