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CHROME:

Bright Nickel/Chrome Plating:
Chrome is plated over bright nickel where a hard, decorative finish is desired. The chrome provides surface hardness while the nickel provides luster. The combination has good corrosion protection and excellent wear resistance. It is used for a variety of parts in the automotive, motorcycle, furniture, plumbing, lighting and many other industries.

Matte (Pearl) Nickel/Chrome Plating:
Chrome is plated over matte nickel to achieve a hard, uniform finish that is semi-lustrous with low reflectivity. It is also referred to as pearl or velour chrome; it does not have the lines or grainy appearance found in traditional satin nickel/chrome finishes. Matte nickel/chrome is used in the plumbing, optical, lighting, automotive and other industries.

Satin (Brushed) Nickel/Chrome Plating:
Chrome is plated over satin nickel to achieve a hard finish that is semi-lustrous with some reflectivity. It is also referred to as brushed chrome; it does have lines or a grainy appearance that is applied by mechanically polishing the surface before or after the nickel plating. It is used in the plumbing, lighting, and furniture industries.

Duplex Nickel/Microporous Chrome Plating:
Duplex nickel uses a layer of semi-bright nickel under bright nickel plating to achieve greatly improved corrosion protection. Normal chrome is made microporous by use of a thin special third nickel layer plated directly on the bright nickel. The combination of these layers provides excellent corrosion resistance with a hard, decorative finish. It is used extensively for automotive and motorcycle parts, especially those exposed to the elements.

Trivalent Nickel/Chrome Plating:
Traditional chrome finishes are hexavalent ions while dissolved in the plating bath. Trivalent chrome baths have been developed to be more environmentally friendly than hexavalent chrome. As a result, trivalent chrome is compliant with the new European RoHS/WEEE regulations. Trivalent chrome cannot be plated to the same thicknesses as hexavalent chrome, but can be applied to over 12 micro-inches thick. The new trivalent bathes are virtually indistinguishable in appearance from hexavalent chrome. For many of these reasons, trivalent chrome is gaining acceptance for many applications, even in the automotive and motorcycle industries.

Black Chrome Plating:
Black chrome is usually plated over bright nickel or matte nickel in the same manner as decorative chrome. Black chrome is not quite as hard or wear resistant as normal nickel/chrome and it is not lustrous. The finish may waxed or oiled to improve the final appearance. Black chrome offers high solar absorption and low emissivity useful in solar panel applications. It is also used for optical components, gun sights and components, lighting and plumbing fixtures and some automotive parts.